The day started, unpromisingly, with rain. By the time we set out, the rain had eased but a few drops were still falling. Would we be able to sit outside at the deli or would the weather be too wet?
Outside the deli
We decided it was dry enough for us to sit out. The sky looked rather gloomy but the rain had stopped.
Lloyd Square
Afterwards, we walked along Lloyd Baker Street into Lloyd Square.
Lloyd Square Garden
Lloyd Square is one of the few garden squares whose central garden is reserved for residents of the square. I often peer enviously over the railings as the garden looks well kept and peaceful.
Granville Square
By and by, we came to Granville Square, a quiet garden square immortalised as Riceyman Square in Arnold Benett’s famous novel.
Riceyman Steps
We crossed the top of the famous steps but did bot venture down them today. The steps are part of what is called Gwynne Place but they are now known by the name given them in the novel.
An onion tree
This house in Wharton Street stands out from the others, firstly, by a number of colourful objects in the front garden but, more particularly, because onions have been hung from the branches of the shrubs to create a (fictitious) “onion tree”.
Kings Cross Eyes
We walked down to Kings Cross Road where this optician’s shop always amuses me with its name – Kings Cross Eyes.
Frederick Street
We walked up Frederick Street into…
Gray’s Inn Road
…Gray’s Inn Road. The threat of rain had lifted and there were even intervals of pale sunshine which pleasantly lightened our mood.
Argyle Square
We passed through Argyle Square, another of the local garden squares though this one is rather bare.
St Pancras Station
We now found ourselves approaching George Gilbert Scott’s Gothic wonder, St Pancras Station, opened in 1868 and now deservedly Grade I listed.
Courtyard, British Library
We passed the British Library in whose courtyard Eduardo Paolozzi’s Newton (1988) still sits measuring out the universe.
Housing estate
We crossed through this housing estate, whose name escapes me, in search of a particular premises.
Kings Cafe
Our goal was Kings Cafe where we had lunched once before and thought to do so again today. I couldn’t have found it by myself but Tigger’s “inner pigeon” led us there unerringly.
Decorated window arch
Setting out again, we passed a building whose window arches were, unusually, decorated with pictures.
Gate, St Pancras Old Church
Through the gates with gilded decorations, we entered what is now called St Pancras Garden and was once the churchyard and burial ground of St Pancras Old Church.
St Pancras Old Church
The Grade II* listed church, founded in the 11th century but rebuilt in 1847, is still extant and remains in use but most of the gravestones have been removed and the churchyard turned into. public garden.
Gasholder Park
We now followed the path that leads to the area behind King’s Cross Station now called Gasholdet Park. You can perhaps see why.
Residences within a gasholder
This area used to be industrial but has been turned into a new residential, shopping, entertainments and arts neighbourhood. Several gasholders were built here during the Victorian era and although they no longer serve their original purpose, they, or at least their metal supports, have been preserved. Inside one is a garden and inside another pair, apartment blocks have been built.
Each leg bears the construction date
On each leg is a plate showing the construction date and modification date, a potted history of the structures.
St Pancras Lock
We crossed over the Regent’s Canal by the foot bridge which gives one a good view of the St Pancras Lock though no barges were passing through at the moment.
Gail’s
We felt it was time for a pit stop and so we made our way to a branch of Gail’s that we had visited before.
Order at the counter
Like most coffee places these days, you order at the counter. It helps if there are two of you as one can grab a table while the other negotiates the purchases.
Aboard the 390
We now took the first of two buses for the homeward run. We boarded a 390 which was actually running off-route but we didn’t care about that as long as it was going our way!
Gloomy sky, Midland Road
The first bus brought us to Midland Road behind St Pancras Station. The sky was looking rather ominous but as we were heading home we were not concerned.
Aboard the 214
At the bus stop in Midland Road we caught a 214 which was crowded but which carried us up the hill to the Angel and home.
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