Tigger is back to work today and the rest of the week, so I am home alone until she returns this evening. The day is hot and I was tempted to stay at home but decided I ought to make the effort to go out. It wasn’t until after lunch that I managed to make up my mind to go and by now the mercury had risen to a respectable 25°C.

Slow traffic at the Angel

By the time I set off down Goswell Road, I was regretting not going out this morning instead because it was now uncomfortably warm but I persevered and kept going. (I think there’s a touch of masochism in my nature!)

Dalby House

I passed this fine villa dating from 1803 and built, along with the rest of the terrace, on what was anciently common land. I discussed the history of the house previously in a post entitled Brewers and beer engines.

Slow traffic and fumes

Goswell Road here was filled with slow-moving traffic disgorging fumes into the air I was trying to breathe. Fortunately, the vehicles thinned out along the road.

Residential block for students

The building of residential blocks for students had become, pre-Covid, a growth industry in London. They were springing up everywhere, to the point where I wondered whether they could all find enough takers to survive. Covid must have hit this industry hard though I expect demand will pick up again as things return to normal.

Looking along Moreland Street

This view is typical of today’s London: everywhere you look, your eye meets an over-tall building shutting out the view and stealing sky.

King’s Square Gardens

I reached King’s Square, which I had set as my destination and entered the gardens. I had had some idea of sitting for a while in some pleasant shady corner but found the park quite busy and so I simply walked on through. At this point, I didn’t have a particular route in mind and just followed my nose.

Portico, St Barnabas with St Clement and St Matthew

I stopped to photograph the imposing portico of the Church of St Barnabas with St Clement and St Matthew. This church was built in the 1820s and is now Grade II listed. It is very tall and you need to distance yourself if you want to include the whole of it in a photo. I had to make do with a more restricted view.

I made my way round the square and walked along this street though, to be honest, I don’t know which one it is. I eventually found my way back to Goswell Road.

Spencer Street

I took along Spencer Street which these days consists entirely of post-war buildings as the area was badly damaged by bombing. In fact, Spencer Street and neighbouring Wynyatt Street were hit on June 18th 1944 by a V-1 flying bomb, which killed 13 people and injured 83.

Dame Alice Owen pub

I wasn’t sure where Spencer Street was taking me so I was quite pleased when it led me to this pub on a corner with St John Street. This pub has had three names in the relatively short time that I have lived in Islington. Maybe this one will stick. . Alice Owen, born Wilkes, was, you may recall, a local philanthropist in Tudor times. She famously had a lucky escape when an arrow, loosed by a practising bowman, pierced her hat without harming her.

Spa Green Garden

Not wishing to traipse up St John Street, and preferring to keep to quieter paths, I crossed through back streets and found myself in the pleasant greenery of Spa Green Garden.

Rosebery Avenue

From Spa Green I crossed Rosebery Avenue, named after Liberal politician Archibald Philip Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery. If you followed previous posts of mine, you can probably guess where I went next.

The Shakespeare’s Head

I entered Arlington Way and, under the benevolent gaze (at least, I think it is benevolent) of William Shakespeare on the sign of the Shakespeare’s Head pub, turned into Myddelton Passage.

The pub vine

The pub vine, visible along the garden wall, is flourishing and was today even bushier than when we last came by.

Grape clusters

Its little clusters of grapes have also grown and are now quite noticeable whereas before, we had to search for them. I don’t suppose they will ever become edible but I shall continue watching their development with interest.

Looking back along Myddelton Passage

I left the intriguing Myddelton Passage, albeit it with a backward glance, and entered Myddelton Square.

A beautiful tree in the gardens

For a change, I photographed this tree instead of the Curvaceous Tree. This one too is beautiful in its own way, as indeed are all the trees in the square’s garden.

Where I like to be

Before turning for home, I took a last photo of the Square, the heart of the district I have learned to love and where I like to be.