It’s another fine day today, sunny and warm. This suggested a slightly longer walk, taking in some “roads less travelled” – less travelled by me, that is.

The Chapel Pub

I started along Penton Street and took this photo of the Chapel pub to show you the pleasant conditions.

Landmark – Church on the Corner

When exploring less familiar regions, not possessing Tigger’s topological intuitions (which include her mysterious “Inner Pigeon”), I check the route beforehand on the map and remember various landmarks along the way. The ex-pub “Church on the Corner” was the first of today’s, reminding me to turn left along Copenhagen Street.

Adventure playground

This street borders Barnard Park where there is this, apparently abandoned, children’s adventure playground, reminding me somewhat of those ancient abandoned villages sometimes discovered deep in the jungle. Will it ever be put back in use, I wonder? (Update: according to an email received privately, the playground is still in use at certain times of day.)

Matilda Street

My next landmark was Matilda Street on the right. There were a couple of other turnings first but it was easy to find.

I don’t know who Matilda was, but this street was in existence by 1845, known first as Matilda Place and later becoming Matilda Street.

You can perhaps just make out in the distance the greenery of my destination.

Modest Georgian style houses

The houses are fairly modest three-storey dwellings (including basement) in the Georgian style. The roadway is quite wide and on the side opposite the houses there is first parkland and then a school. Quite a pleasant area in which to live, I imagine.

Thornhill Square Gardens in view

At the end of Matilda Street we reach the inviting greenness of Thornhill Square.

Larger houses in Thornhill Square

The houses in Thornhill Square are larger – three upper storeys plus the usual basement – and obviously designed for a more discerning (i.e. wealthier) clientele. They date from the 1840s and the square’s name comes from George Thornhill (1811-75), then MP for Huntingdon and a High Sheriff, who owned the land on which it was built.

Part of the gardens

The central garden of Thornhill Square is very large, as squares go, and I think it is the largest in Islington. It is shaped rather like a bullet see this map). It has several different areas, including a children’s playground, areas to sit and shady paths for strolling. Here are a few images.

The gardens and spire of St Andrew’s Church

This view includes the spire of St Andrew’s Church (consecrated 1854) at the far end of the square, built on land also provided by George Thornhill.

The tallest tree

I particularly admired this tree in the centre of the garden. I think it is the tallest but with so many fine old trees, it’s hard to be sure.

Caged lions

As I walked back along Matilda Street, I came upon this pair of heraldic lions, apparently caged behind basement railings.

Guarding the door

Then I found their companion, couchant this time, guarding the front door. Were they perhaps spoils from a demolished grand house?

The path with no name

Instead of following Matilda Street to the end, I decided to follow this path through to the next street up. It may have a name, as there are houses fronting on it but, if so, I have yet to discover it.

Hemingford Road and Barnard Park

The path brought me to Hemingford Road and Barnard Park. I thought of walking through the park but, thinking this might take me too far out of my way, left it for another time. (The road is possibly named after the village of Hemingford Abbots in Cambridgeshire.)

Going uphill in Copenhagen Street

I returned to Copenhagen Street which is a bit of an uphill trudge at this point. Happily, it levels out by the time we reach the corner.

Continuing in Copenhagen Street

I could have returned along Barnesbury Road that becomes Penton Street but I remembered a path between houses that would take me to Culpeper Park.

Here it is

It was as I remembered. I had met a friendly cat here but he was not visible today.

Arriving at Culpeper Park

Thus I came to Culpeper Park and from there crossed through Sainsbury’s carpark to Chapel Market.

And you know who is in Chapel Market, don’t you? 🙂

Mercer’s in Chapel Market

I allowed myself to be tempted and went in to buy coffee. (I thought I deserved a reward 🙂 ) It looks as though they have finally completed the new tiling round the door. It took them a while but they finished it in the end.

(I took that photo one-handed – I had a cup of hot coffee in the other hand – and so it’s not bad, considering.)

Coffee in hand I hurried home. This evening I will meet Tigger at the bus stop and we will go to the Banana Tree for a Thai takeaway supper. The weekend starts here!