Continuing my plan of going for a daily walk, I set out this afternoon at 14:05, heading roughly north. The weather forecast predicted heavy cloud but, in fact, the sun was shining and had taken the chill off the air.

The pigeons of Culpeper Park

I cut through Sainsbury’s car park and crossed into Cloudesley Road. Of course, I had to pause to say hello to “my friends” (dixit Tigger), the pigeons. For some reason, the pigeons in this flock always look happy, preening and chatting away to one another, and seeing them makes me feel cheerful too.

Culpeper Park

The pigeons live in Culpeper Park though, for whatever reason, they spend a lot of time socialising on the pavement outside it, but quickly take refuge in the park’s trees if something scares them. This park is also home to the lovely Culpeper Community Garden which I often visit though I gave it a miss today.

Cloudesley Road

I walked up the peaceful Cloudesley Road, an unusually wide road for its status as a quiet residential backstreet. I speculate that in the past it might have been a busier street than it is now.

Residences become shops become residences

One reason for thinking this is that in several places what were originally houses had been converted into shops and then, later, back to residences.

A. Wyld, French Milliner

One of the most fascinating of these house-shops is at number 71. It still displays, in now faded gold lettering, the occupant’s name and business: A. Wyld, French Milliner. Such a prestigious business would surely not have hidden itself away in the backstreets and this suggests that Cloudesley Road was once an important thoroughfare.

Two shops-now-dwellings

A little further along the street, we find another pair of once-shops but their signage disappeared long ago under succeeding layers of new paint.

Holy Trinity Church

Off to one side of Cloudesley Road is Cloudesley Square which, like our neighbouring Myddelton Square, is residential with a church in the centre. The church, called Holy Trinity, has been undergoing a long process of refurbishment, apparently not yet concluded. Will it, when finished, be brought back into service as a church or will another use be found for it?

Throw packages carefully!

On the railings is affixed a box for mail and I was amused by the notice attached to this, no doubt dating to when, because of building work or the lockdowns (or both), the gate had been locked.

The Old Royal Free

From Cloudesley Square I arrived in Liverpool Road, which I crossed to enter the grounds of the old Royal Free Hospital, now converted to residential use. For a history of the Royal Free, see here.

Still discernibly a hospital

I passed through the left hand arch into the enclosure which is now called Old Royal Free Square. I photographed part of one wing that, though now divided into apartments, still clearly shows its original form as a hospital.

The playground

In the centre of the square, a playground has been built for the children living here. There is also a large area covered with artificial grass, possibly for football and suchlike.

Children’s handprints

The railings round the play area are decorated with plaques made by impressing children’s handprints into clay or some such material.

A pedestrian way

From the square, I entered this narrow pedestrian way that leads between buildings to the main road.

Upper Street and Islington Green

Following this path, one emerges in Upper Street opposite Islington Green.

Oxfam Bookshop

Nearby, is a certain well-known emporium of books. I had not intended to go in but the Oxfam Bookshop exercises a strange attractive influence on me and in I went. When I came out again, I had a book in my pocket that had not been there before!

Entering Angel Central

Rather than returning home along the busy Upper Street, I went back round the corner and entered Angel Central by the side passage.

Courtyard, Angel Central

I walked through the open area, which was quite crowded, and…

Household wares, Chapel Market

…made my way through Chapel Market which was fairly busy but still far from from its pre-pandemic glory. Will those halcyon days eventually return?

Baron Street

I turned down Baron Street and was soon home.

You may be wondering what the book was that I bought in the Oxfam Bookshop, so here it is:

Le Mystère Henri Pick
David Foenkinos

It is Le Mystère Henri Pick by an author of whom I have read and liked other books, David Foenkinos. His name (pronounced fwen-KEY-nos) may not look French but he is a pukka French novelist for all that and his books have met with considerable success both in the original French and in translation.

Now to make tea and start my new book!