Well, why not? It’s been a while since we were there and today’s warm sunny weather invites to rambling further afield. But first…

Black Sheep

But first, we stopped for coffee and croissants at the King’s Cross branch of Black Sheep.

Passing by King’s Cross Station

Continuing after our coffee break, we passed by King’s Cross Station and entered St Pancras, descending to the lower level for the services to the south.

Our train arrives

When the Brighton train arrived, we went aboard. It calls en route at Croydon.

Aboard the Brighton train

We went aboard and found that there were plenty of vacant seats. There was a mixed feeling of familiarity (we have travelled this route many times) and strangeness (we haven’t travelled this way for such a long time).

Disembarking at East Croydon Station.

This building is known to some as the Fifty-Pence Building because each level has facets like the eponymous coin.

The unusual name of this pub derives from the fact that it is virtually next door to the old post office and sorting office (now closed).

Croydon is a city of trams and we have been on many tram rides but are not doing so today.

This is East Croydon Station, not the prettiest building in Croydon, nor, unfortunately, the ugliest.

This purports to be the Church of Christian Science whatever that is. For my money, science and religion don’t mix.

This concrete bunker contains Croydon’s Crown Courts.

This view combines a mixture of old and new. No prizes for guessing which I prefer. Certainly not most of the new buildings that have less charm than the average cardboard box.

This is the Town Hall, the sort of building that pours balm on my spirit, rudely assaulted by ugly modernity.

This is the War Memorial, originally for World War I but, sadly, modified to include the Second. A monument to the sacrifice of many and to the stupidity of the human race.

One of the figures on the War Memorial. It speaks volumes if you let it.

The monument to Queen Victoria. The dates show that it was commissioned after her death.

This is a large scale work of “street” art by Otto Schade aka Osch. I imagine a work of this scale must have been done to commission.

This fine old department store seems to be slowly succumbing to less noble structures. The ground floor has alteady been vandalised.

These old almshouses are still in use as dwellings, I’m glad to see.

We walked some way along this pedestrian-only road called North End. I’m sure it’s a wonderful place to do your shopping but, personally, I was glad to leave it.

We spotted this old Burton’s store and looked for any foundation stones. We found none, no doubt because they have been obscured by the current ground-floor frontage.

When we had walked enough, we turned back towards the station and stopped off at Caffè Nero.

I queued for coffee while Tigger found us a table. In this peaceful environment, I composed much of this post.

Back at the station, we walked down the long, sloping ramp to the platforms.

We had to change platforms via a footbridge from where I took a photo looking over the track.

We reached the platform just as a train for Bedford arrived. We went aboard and found seats. Once more, the train was comfortably uncrowded.

We arrived without incident at St Pancras and went to wait for our ride home. Within a few minutes, a 214 arrived and whisked us back to the Angel. This ended our expedition.

Composed “on the hoof” in Croydon and on the way there and back.

After lunch, we decided to pay a visit to Finsbury Library to return the two books I had borrowed, neither of which proved worth reading. Accordingly, we set off via Myddelton Square.

Myddelton Square cat
Photo by Tigger

We kept a lookout for the two cats who live in Myddelton Square and – yes! – one was visible. Cat score = 1.

Passing through Myddelton Square Gardens

We crossed the square by passing through the gardens and…

Myddelton Passage

…entered Myddelton Passage where, as we usually do, we checked…

The pub vine

…to see how the pub vine was doing. It was doing very well and…

A promise of grapes

…promising a fine crop of grapes later in. Even though these will probably be too small to eat, it is still exciting to watch them grow and develop.

Passing through Spa Green Gardens

We cut through Spa Green Gardens. Unfortunately, our passage coincided with the local primary school’s home time and the park and roads were full of children and parents, meaning that discretion made it unwise to take photos of the scene.

Arriving at the library

Tigger cleverly led us by a path that brought us out right beside the library. I was hoping to show Tigger the machine by using it to return my books but when we entered, we were met by a library staff member who, after inviting us to use the hand-gel dispenser, enquired what we wished to do in the library. When I said I was returning books, he told me to put them in the chute outside.

The returns chute

The notice on the chute clearly says to use it when the library is closed and the library was definitely open. However, I didn’t feel inclined to argue. Life’s too short.

Looking around the library

We had a cursory look around the library but the stock on display at present is very much less than it used to be and neither of us were inspired to borrow anything. Fortunately, I have the four books that I bought yesterday.

Colourful objects
Photo by Tigger

We had spotted some colourful objects in the garden on the other side of the road and went to take a look.

Table with chess board

They appear to be two tables with chess boards painted on them. Chess pieces not supplied. But do you notice something?

Only one seat

Each table has only one seat. In each case, the other person would have to sit on the low wall behind the table. That doesn’t seem very friendly or conducive to a long session of chess. I am unsure whether these objects are intended as a facility for public use or are perhaps intended as “art”. Both, perhaps.

Chestnut tree in flower

We returned via Spa Green Gardens but by a different path so I was able to show Tigger the chestnut tree that was finally in flower, having hung fire throughout spring.

We passed back through Myddelton Passage and went to the deli to buy coffee which we took to the gardens in Myddelton Square.

Feeding the squirrels
Photo by Tigger

We found a free bench and sat for a while. Tigger had brought a jar of food for the animals. While I kept the pigeons busy, Tigger courted the squirrels. They are very nervous but she succeeded in attracting them, selecting titbits that they like, such as slices of dried banana which they love.

Feeding from lids
Photo by Tigger

As I have mentioned, the squirrels seem nervous of the pigeons which do their best to grab any food you put out. Tigger had the idea of putting food for squirrels in the lid of the jar and the lid of one of the coffee cups. She managed to “train” the squirrels to eat from these. That made it more difficult for the pigeons to grab what was intended for the squirrels.

Keeping the pigeons busy

Meanwhile, as I said I kept most of the pigeons distracted by feeding them seeds and other small stuff that they can gobble up easily.

Walking back through the gardens

When the animal feed – and our coffee! – were finished, we made our way back through the gardens, enjoying the sunshine and peaceful surroundings.

As we had seen one of the Myddelton Square cats, we wondered whether we would also see the Claremont Square kitten.

The kitten in the window

And we did: in his favourite place in the window. Cat score = 2.

But then, sharp-eyed Tigger noticed something in the basement of another house:

The cat in the basement
Photo by Tigger

It was a cat we had not seen before, a bonus cat! Cat score = 3.

Yes, all right, we are cat fanatics but we know it and it’s all in fun.

Thus ended today’s adventures. Tigger, I’m glad to say, is still on holiday so we have a few more days together to look forward to.

It’s a lovely sunny day today, though not too warm, perfect for a ramble in the City or anywhere else. Tigger, who knows the City well, needed a couple of things from shops she knew there, so off we went.

A sunny day at the Angel

We went down to a bus stop where we could catch a number 43 bus into the City and, while waiting, I took this photo.

Aboard the 43

Travelling mid-morning means that the bused are not crowded as they are apt to be earlier on.

The lower end of Moorgate

We left the bus at the lower end of Moorgate. Here we are in the City proper, where every other building contains a bank and all the well known financial companies have offices. It looks deserted but only because everyone is indoors working at whatever City workers work at.

Telegraph Street

We turned up this narrow way called Telegraph Street. In the City there are many such lanes and alleys, often with picturesque names, remnants no doubt of the medieval street layout.

Whalebone Court

As an example, we came upon this passage called Whalebone Court. Could this, in times past, have been where artisans making goods out of whalebone had their workshops? It’s quite likely though the establishment in the corner these days is a barber’s shop.

Work of art?

Passing an office block, I photographed the metal structure in the lobby. Is it intended as a work of art? These days, artworks assume such a variety of forms that it becomes difficult to distinguish between a work of art and a heap of rubbish awaiting collection.

Throgmorton Street

We entered another narrow thoroughfare, this one called Throgmorton Street. According to Wikipedia, “It is named after Nicholas Throckmorton, chief banker of England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I and the head of an ancient Warwickshire family.”

A handsome pair of telamons

Among the items that claimed my attention in this street was this handsome pair of telamons,…

Premises with a clock

…these premises with a fine old clock that, I’m glad to say, is in working order, and…

Frieze above a gateway

…this frieze in relief above a carriage entrance.

We went for coffee

We made a pause in a branch of Black Sheep Coffee, one of Tigger’s favourite hang-outs on working days in the City.

Inside Black Sheep

Coffee and croissants

Although we had had breakfast before setting out, we allowed ourselves to be tempted and had croissants with our coffee. They were nicer than those we had yesterday and I cautiously awarded them 7 out of 10.

Unascribed work of art

This at least can be unequivocally recognised as a work of art though I did not see a plate with the artist’s name.

Also unascribed

This artwork was also anonymous. Make of it what you will.

Tigger visited the shops that she had come to see and made her purchases but I will not bore with this any further.

London Wall and Wormwood Street

We now walked to Liverpool Street Station where we would catch a bus for home. In the photo, we are crossing London Wall (ahead in the photo) where it mutates into Wormwood Street (behind me).

Liverpool Street Station

To catch our bus we had to cross through Liverpool Street Station, which was quite busy, as railway stations are apt to be at all times of day, and go up a level.

Für das Kind
Flor Kent

On the way through, I photographed the monument recalling the bringing of children to Britain from Europe to save them from Nazi atrocities. It was originally in front of the station entrance but had been moved inside, I don’t know whether temporarily or permanently.

Liverpool Street Bus Station

At the bus station we had a little while to wait for our bus but it eventually arrived.

Aboard the 153

We caught a trusty 153 single-deck bus that whisked us through the City and up the hill to the Angel.

We will have a little rest and then have lunch and perhaps go out again this afternoon.

As the weather was dry, a little warmer and even threatening sunshine, we ventured a little further afield in our walk.

Aboard the 38 to Victoria

In St John Street we boarded a 38 bus bound for Victoria Station. We disembarked one stop before the station and began walking.

Buckingham Gate

We left the bus here in a busy thoroughfare called Buckingham Gate which runs beside the gardens of Buckingham Palace.

In search of coffee and cake

We entered this pedestrian precinct full of restaurants and night clubs. Tigger had vouchsafed that she fancied coffee and cake so we went off in search of that.

Notes

Our search brought us to a coffee shop called Notes which supplied our needs.

Coffee and cake
Photo by Tigger

Tigger had a cake of some sort but I again chose a croissant. Croissants are among my favourites though it’s hard to find really good ones in the UK.

Steps to Palace Place

We set off to find a map shop that Tigger wanted to visit. Following the route shown in her phone brought us to this stepped street called Palace Place. (The proximity of Buckingham Palace has resulted in many local streets having “Palace” or “Buckingham” in their names.)

Palace Place

In Palace Place we encountered a man on a large delivery bicycle. Following his GPS, he thought he could cut through here, only to find his way barred by a staircase impassable for his loaded bicycle. He disappeared, seeking a way round the obstacle.

Buckingham Mews

Still searching, we chanced upon the picturesque Buckingham Mews. Is it as pleasant a location to live in as it looks?

Petty France

Not finding what we were looking for, we reverted to rambling and looking at (and photographing) whatever things of interest we chanced to encounter. Here we are walking along a famous street called Petty France. The name possibly derives from French Huguenot refugees who settled in the area. A number of important buildings, government and other, are sited here. I remember the passport office being here years ago.

It might be tempting to think that the “Petty” in “Petty France” comes from the French word petite but this is not likely. The word “petty” was used in past times simply to mean “small” or “of slight importance” as, for example, in the judicial term “petty larceny”. There is also a street near the Tower of London called Petty Wales for which any French linguistic connection is obviously non-existent.

Caxton Hall

We passed in front of the magnificent Grade II listed Caxton Hall, built 1878-82.

Caxton Hall, main entrance

The main entrance is lavishly decorated and provided with two sculpted figures with busts above them. We thought the figure in the right may be the then future King Edward VII but are uncertain of the remainder.

The nain doorway

This picture shows a closer view of the main doorway and its detailed decor.

A ground-floor window

This photo shows a ground-floor window and its decoration. Note that the figuring on the pilasters is different in each case and not repeated from one to the other.

Blewcoat School

We stumbled upon the local Blewcoat (sic) School, dating to 1709. Bluecoat Schools, originally dating from the 16th century were charity schools that accepted a number of pupils free of charge. Some accepted both girls and boys though this one seems to have been for boys only. The name comes from the blue uniform, a coat for boys and dress for girls, and the schools often feature a sculpture of a notional scholar – or pair of scholars, where girls were also admitted – on the façade as this one does.

Original name plaque with date

This school was originally founded in 1688, moving to these premises in 1709, and continuing as a school until 1954. Some other Bluecoat schools are still functioning as schools. More information will be found here.

The Greencoat Boy

Not faraway we discovered a pub called the Greencoat Boy and then several buildings with “Grey coat” in the name. I was beginning to wonder whether these too indicated the past presence of schools distinguished by the colours of their pupils’ uniforms. It seems the answer is both yes and no. The “Greencoat”, I think, has nothing to do with schools or anything else and is just an imaginative name, though I could of course be proved wrong. As for the Grey Coat, there at least we do have a school.

The Grey Coat Hospital

It is called the Grey Coat Hospital and is today a Church of England-run school for girls. (In past ages, establishments were often named “hospital” that were not medical facilities as we now use the term. They might denote charitable foundations where people could lodge overnight or longer. For example, the famous institution for old soldiers is called the Royal Hospital Chelsea.)

The Grey Coat Hospital was founded in 1698 and is an example of an ancient charity school that still functions as a school.

Two more architecturally interesting buildings that we “collected” along the way were…

St James’s Court

…St James’s Court and…

Westminster Palace Gardens

…Westminster Palace Gardens. I have not researched these two buildings: this is left as an exercise for the reader 🙂

St Matthew’s Westminster

Hiding coyly behind a tree is the Anglican Church of St Matthew Westminster. It was designed by that prolific producer of churches George Gilbert Scott, and built 1849-51, though almost completely destroyed by fire in 1977 and subsequently rebuilt.

Man in the Moon Passage

We now caught a bus that delivered us to Regent Street. There we were intrigued by the name of a narrow walkway called Man in the Moon Passage and, as it was leading our way, we walked down it, though it turned out not to be as quaint or interesting as its name.

Piccadilly

It led us to another famous London street, Piccadilly. This contains many interesting places to explore (e.g. St James’s Church, a bit of whose spire you can see on the left, Waterstone’s flagship bookshop and Fortnum & Mason’s store) but we were content to go to the bus stop and catch a number 38 bus back home to the Angel.

Aboard the 38 bus

It was raining in earnest today with no sign of an early cessation. We were determined to go for a walk, however, and set out bravely. Here I will let you into a little secret: Tigger has an app on her phone that counts how many steps she has taken during the day and she has fixed a daily minimum amount. This is good because it ensures that we go for at least one good walk each day.

Beware puddles

As you can see, it had been raining for some time and it was best to avoid walking near the road because of the risk of being splashed by passing vehicles.

Plenty of traffic

We walked down Pentonville Road where there were plenty of vehicles to do the splashing, especially buses with their broad tyres.

Walking down Pentonville Road in the rain

Here were are walking down Pentonville Road, heading for King’s Cross and St Pancras Stations. We promised ourselves coffee in the dry as a reward.

The Victorian Gothic Station

Here we are arriving in view of St Pancras Station, a Victorian Gothic marvel that was very nearly stolen from us by vandal developers who wished to demolish it. Happily, it survived and long may it continue to do so.

A glimpse of King’s Cross Departures

We walked round the periphery of King’s Cross Station without going inside. I took this quick-glimpse photo of the Departures building.

Eurostar Departures

We entered St Pancras Station by the entrance nearest Eurostar Departures. As the photo shows, it was eerily quiet. Though services are running, the frequency of trains is low compared with pre-Covid days. The only train showing on the departures board was the 16:31 to Paris.

I bought some books

On arrival, because I had been disappointed with the books I had borrowed from the library, Tigger suggested a visit to Hatchard’s bookshop in the station. We had bought French books there before. I went a little mad and bought four, shown above. Fortunately, they are part of the Waterstine’s chain and our Waterstone’s loyalty card had some credit in it which took some of the sting out of the cost.

A corner in EN&L Cafe

For coffee, we went to an establishment called EN&L Cafe. They have tables outside (though within the station building) but also some two-person booths inside. We sat in one of these. For a treat, we also had croissants.

Two views inside St Pancras Station

After our coffee break, Tigger proposed continuing our walk but doing so inside the station. The complex is big enough for this to make sense and there are several different areas accessible without tickets.

Pret’s “terrace”

We passed by Pret A Manger which has an indoor “terrace” for customers and…

A view from the escalator

…we took the escalator to the upper floor from where I took this photo showing the magnificent vaulted roof.

Upper-level ticket barriers and platforms

We have started many journeys from here when travelling to northern destinations. Perhaps we will do so again if and when Covid can be brought under control.

Sir John Betjeman
Martin Jennings, 2007

Here, on the level, stands a statue of Poet Laureate Sir John Betjeman, his privileged position in the midst of the station being in honour of his support in saving this beautiful and historic Grade I listed building from destruction.

Shhh, you know who…!

As I haven’t included a self-portrait lately, I though you might be amused by this, slightly unflattering, view of yours truly, checking the sculpture’s details.

The Meeting Point
Paul Day

We also paid a visit to a rather different work of art, the huge pair of lovers called The Meeting Point by Paul Day. Around the base of the main sculpture is a set of small reliefs showing scenes related to travel by train and Underground. One of these vignettes seems particularly popular.

Homeless person and dog
Photo by Tigger

This small artwork-within-an-artwork depicts an elderly homeless person carrying her possessions in bags and, nearby, a seated dog. It’s not clear whether they are travelling together or have been momentarily brought in proximity by chance. How do I know the group is popular? Because they, and particularly the dog, are shiny from being touched by people’s hands.

St Pancras Station courtyard

We left the station by the courtyard and made our way back towards King’s Cross Station and the bus stop in front of it. Yes, Tigger had checked her app and found that she had completed the requisite number of steps for today, meaning that we were justified in taking the bus back!

On the 214 back to the Angel