I was born and had my childhood in Islington. Kings Square EC1. Its great to see places I remember. I had dental treatment at Eastmans. And we used to play in Northumbrtland Square. Love the video.

Another lovely walk John. I have lived in Lincolnshire all my life I am 82.It fascinates me all the lovely buildings and parks there are in London.

B Nostalgia..bought a lovely touring bicycle from Condor Cycles (over your shoulder at 1.35) on Grays Inn Rd in 1989. Travelled far and wide on it. Shipped it back to Australia and rode it for a few more years. Someone needed it more than me...pinched in 2000.

I remember explaining the prison situation to a non-local. Holloway Prison is in Pentonville Road, but Pentonville Prison is in Caledonian Road. Parkhurst Road is just round the corner, but Parkhurst Prison is on the Isle of Wight.

@robinsanderson

Жыл бұрын

Holloway Prison is not on Pentonville Road, it’s on Parkhurst Road

@jackpayne4658

Жыл бұрын

@@robinsanderson Yes, of course - my mistake.

I lived at 49 Richmond Avenue from birth until early twenties back in the 60's. Quite incredible the memories your walk evoked and the knock-on effect from one memory to another. Our house was on the corner of Richmond Avenue and Hemingford Road which ran parallel to Matilda Street (caught on your video) into Copenhagen Street. Hemingford Road and Matilda Street were connected by Shirley Street and Everilda Street which are long gone. Everilda Street was home to my primary school, St Thomas', a "temporary" play surface where we played football for years and a pub at the bottom corner called The Rothbury Arms, run by Chris and Cyril. It was very much a local pub where we played darts Sunday lunchtime and enjoyed many evenings. It also did lock-ins where the clientele were a few of us regulars plus the local criminal community and a number of police from Caledonian Road police station. No guns on the counter but a lot of rolled up banknotes with drinks often bought all round. I had friends in every street I've mentioned plus streets that I haven't. One such friend who lives in New Zealand actually found your video and sent me the link. I could go on (yes, I know) about alsorts but suffice to say such happy days. If I could do it all again I'd be there in a heartbeat. Thank you so much for the memories!

John thank you for that walk. I used to live not far from where you were taking us on that walk- New North Road and the year was 1999. What a happy days ? Anyone from that neighborhood remembers Purple Turtle music pub down the Essex Road ? This was so nostalgic to walk the streets I knew so well back in a day . Cheers

This was great, John. I loved that you pointed out all the details of the old cattle market, like the taverns and the railings. Glad you explained the dichotomy between wealth and poverty in Islington. I used to teach at the nursery school on Copenhagen Street and the mix of children from different social classes was really striking. Child poverty in Islington is over 45%, amongst the highest rate of any local authority in England. The Cally is a fantastic area to explore. Lots of hidden history just beneath the surface.

@alspurs1990

2 жыл бұрын

What year would that have been?

@joebenge3920

2 жыл бұрын

@@alspurs1990 When I worked there? Only a couple of years ago. 2018-2020.

@alspurs1990

2 жыл бұрын

@@joebenge3920 long before my time then haha. All the best

@joebenge3920

2 жыл бұрын

@@alspurs1990 Did you go to KG as a child?

@alspurs1990

2 жыл бұрын

@@joebenge3920 nah barnsbury playgroup inside barnard park. Been demolished now

Another great walk, John and very resonant for me. I was born in sight of the Cally Clock tower in a long-demolished slum in Goodinge Road. My dad worked for Carreras at the old Black Cat factory in Mornington Crescent. When I was 5 we moved with the firm out to Basildon New Town, but my dad pined terribly for Islington. Every Saturday throughout the 60s, 70s, 80s he caught the X10 coach back to Kings Cross, and would tour his old stomping grounds - Chapel Market (where his mum I think had once had a fruit stall) and, most especially, the great Islington Libraries. Despite not being a resident he persuaded 6 or 7 family members who'd stayed to let him use library cards in their name. Every week for decades! Very poignant. He's long gone. I live in Hastings but at least once a year I try to come up and retrace his steps, imagine what he'd say about his beloved area now. Thanks for that and also reminding me of afternoons turning into evenings in the Scala - can still remember the smell and taste of the coffee and the Camels I smoked through those marathons.

@TelBil2010

10 ай бұрын

It's stories like this that must never be forgotten

Doyles pub was previously the Prince Arthur, which was just referred to as the Arthur by the regulars. Back in the mid 70s & 80s the landlord was an Irish fella called Chris and his wife was Dorothy if my memory serves. Very nice couple. A lot of memories came flooding back to me watching this video.

@Marxist623

2 жыл бұрын

Love the Arthur back then ,you must know the coppers ,anyway great video.

I lived on the priory green estate until I joined the army at 17. Certain was rough in the 1970 made Ireland seem tamed. Later returned to work back on the cally in Kingcross motorcycles half way up on the left, then years later worked in Pentonville. So a massive thank you for letting me joint you on that walk, you trigged so many mostly happy memories.

@ianburns9780

2 жыл бұрын

I had my older brother hung around the Arundel area in the 70s. Not sure exactly where, but my poor dad had regular trips to take him home after many skermishes. Who with and why, only himself and others knew. If Bob was around now, he would give this a thumbs up. ( RIP brother ) Good health to you Terry.

7:19 The Pogues played their first gig at The Water Rats, or the Pindar of Wakefield as it was called then. I was there.

@luggylugworm

2 жыл бұрын

Still got a live low-fi L.P. by punk band Alternative TV recorded there called Live at the Rat Club featuring Genesis P Orridge gossiping in the crowd.

@funksoulbrother3620

2 жыл бұрын

also the venue of Bob Dylan's first London show in 1962

Such a fascinating history the Caledonian Park has! I was fortunate enough to get on a free tour of the Clock Tower recently, and the view from the top is stunning. The structure has been extensively refurbished & has many interesting illustrated information boards telling the story of the place in the various rooms you pass through on the way up to the balcony.

I remember the Scala used to have Friday midnight concerts in the 70's. Many happy memories of stumbling out onto Pentonville Road at 6 am coming down off a massive trip, looking for a cuppa tea and a fry-up!

At 62 I'm disabled and pretty much house bound, 6 miles from the nearest shop, so thanks for taking me down these back streets in an urban landscape I'll probably never see again.

This was great John, thank you. The Cally end of market road is almost unrecognisable now! I grew up on Market Estate in the eighties and my parents still live not far - just behind Pentonville Prison. We lived on the Shearling Way estate opposite the park which is still there but my younger brother and I spent our days playing in the park (which we always called clock tower park) and the old red flats. I had friends in the old Kerry House and the other flats there and we would all spend the days playing around them and trying to get into the old abandoned underground car park. The base of the clock tower was graffitied and grim. We used to lie on the grass close to the tower and look up and imagine it was falling on us. Clearly, no Internet and no money meant that’s what passed for thrills then! The Cally and Holloway Road were definitely tough places to grow up, but particularly that estate so I was very pleased when my parents finally moved from there about 19 years ago. Not long after they left yoke close where we lived, a poor kid was stabbed to death there. My dad still drinks in the Tarmon. When we were kids it was a great Irish pub but the couple who ran it, (Tom I believe the man was called and I think he named the pub after the village in Ireland he was from) sold it about twenty odd years ago and the landlord who runs it now turned the old back half where the snooker tables were into flats and hasn’t decorated the outside since. So it’s fairly grim now and frequented by the ‘characters’ of Cally road but it is still the cheapest pint in London so my 80 year old dad still takes himself down there every Friday. Thanks for the trip down memory lane!

@JohnRogersWalks

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much for sharing that

@spreadbookjoy

2 жыл бұрын

@@JohnRogersWalks no problem! My partner and I watch you videos every week and did throughout the pandemic and this is my first comment - we live in Walthamstow now (where my partner is from) and love your adventures in Epping and anywhere north east. We really appreciate what you do and find it fascinating! All the best!

Loved this walk - thank you. Used to catch the bus every day in the Cally to go to work. Lived in Offord Road Barnsbury for 40 years and my children used to play in Thornhill Square too.

I left London decades ago but I do remember near where you are were the Copenhagen tunnels which took the railway line from Kings Cross. The Tunnels became famous as a location for the ' Lady Killers ' film. Certainly a lot of references of Copenhagen in that area.

In the ‘50´s the Cally was always considered to be rougher than Holloway Rd - not that there was much to choose between them. Most of the houses were very run-down and multiple-family units. The best maintained were the council and philanthropist blocks of flats. And so many bomb sites - great to play in. Only started to get built on in the ‘60s. Both sides of my family were from there - but by the mid-60´s all had improved their situation and moved on to greener pastures. Then began most of the gentrification.

I’m surprised you didn’t mention one of the oddities of the area - Muriel Street and Leirum Street. The street was cut in half by a new development and having Muriel Street in two unconnected halves caused confusion. So the residents voted to rename half of the street by writing the name backwards. As for markets, there used to be a street market on Cally Road, through to the late 1980s perhaps, when var traffic got too busy.

@JohnRogersWalks

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for that info PJ never heard it before - great story

@JBLewis

2 жыл бұрын

That's a novel solution! Discontiguous streets bearing a continuous name are a common thing here in the Minneapolis, MN area.

@illegalferets

2 жыл бұрын

It used to be joked about that the council just out the letters on back to front.

@davinryanaaron

2 жыл бұрын

@@JBLewis here in Saskatchewan Canada too...gets confusing.

Wow . Three of my fave pubs, the Charles, Calthorpe and Thornhill.❤

Grew up on Roman way just on the other side of the Pentonville Prison. My father always took me on walks to the nearby market road park and it's iconic clock tower. Great memories.

Another great walk. I used to work at Rough Trade Distribution in Collier Street and most lunches were spent in the now closed Malt & Hops (which in the back of the shot @ 9.42) we'd also in the evenings sometimes visit the Flying Scotsman - which was turning into a very down at heal strip joint and really rather a depressing place.. but in keeping with Kings Cross at that time. The Mutoid Waste Company moved into the old Bus Garage in between Omega Place and Northdown Street - resulting some extraordinary parties - were they built landscapes, like giant movie sets...

It would be interesting to see an interactive map of London with all the routes you've ever filmed highlighted. I wouldn't be surprised if you've travelled down many of the streets in central London for a video.

@JohnRogersWalks

2 жыл бұрын

I'd be interested to see that too Sean - I think you're probably right in terms of Central London - it was my intention to continue the 'overlooked London' theme of my book but I've clearly strayed from that so no reason not to cover the Central area - particularly west around Paddington etc. However walks like the Tyburn for example pass across Oxford Street and through Mayfair and Victoria, also bits of Soho pop up in my Denmark Street video, there's a video on Fitzrovia, and a couple in Bloomsbury, also Covent Garden at night - so I've probably covered more of Central London than you'd think.

FYI - the Eastman Dental Clinic relocated to Huntley Street - colocated with UCL London Hospital. It remains the UK's leading dental hospital providing dental care through the public health service.

It's nice to reconcile the actual location with the stories that my in laws tell me about their childhood as they grew up around Caledonia Road. (They are over 80 and moved to Hertfordshire under a relocation scheme).

A favourite bit of trivia is that during the Great War, a spy was operating from a barber's on Cally Road, whos arrest led to the uncovering of a spy ring! Exact location varies, either on the canal or opposite the prison... The Cally is still a barrier preventing further Islington gentrification, and tbh I am happy its that way, I lived near The Tarmon for many years and would drink in there quite a bit. Old man council boozer, always packed for Arsenal matches :)

@TheKatLou

Ай бұрын

Wow! That's a fascinating story! I want to find out more

Thank you for providing me with another enjoyable trip down memory lane John (as did your walk through Canonbury from last year). In the mid-80's I moved in with my partner at the time to a council flat in one of those beautiful late Georgian houses not far from Thornhill Square. Around half the houses in the street were 'council' whilst the other half were privately owned by families who would now be described as young professionals. Many had bought and refurbished their houses in the 70's when the area was cheap and decidely un-trendy. The social mix of literally having rich and poor living next door to one another was one of the genuine pleasures of living in the area. Having said that, Caledonian Road and the surrounding estates were grim to say the least and had a terrible reputation for random violence. The market gate posts that you show at 28:37 originally had cast iron effigies of cattle heads mounted into the niches at the top of each post. All stolen many years ago. One of the heads came up for auction recently and sold for a large sum. Thanks again for doing this walk. I think that you and I must have lived in Islington over roughly the same time period and appear to share a passion for the area and its history.

beautiful piece of history and beauty, I have always loved North and East London, even though I am from South London.

Something about the Calthorpe Arms reminded me of the Sylvia Hotel in Vancouver, for some reason, a lovely place with a view. A good place for a pint. Maybe the neighbourly feel of the area.. as you reminisced on the community. Vancouver is my ‘80’s / 90’s nostalgia. An enjoyable walk thank you John.

In the fifties and sixties those big houses where very run down and we're all multiple occupancy,so to see it there and remember what it was like , very very different ,I know of a guy who had a flat in Islington he bought it in the eighties then sold it later and bought a nice house in Somerset !

As a Londoner born and bred you have opened my eyes to areas I didn’t know that well and love the history that accompanies them. I just love your walks around London and further afield. Thank you please do not stop making them.

Morning John still watching you it’s great

In the 70's I used to play football on the astroturf pitches which were on the old cattle market in market road ....... I've also got some photos of Madness in their early days filming a promotional video there when they were football pitches....

That was brilliant! In re Walter Sickert, there is a theory that he and Jack The Ripper were one and the same person.. predicated partly I think on those paintings by Walt (who was CLEARLY a bundle of laughs) which show women with a sinister looking wash of red.. Anyone heard of this theory? Lovely vid as ever; Happy Easter to you John and to one and all! 👍

Smashing film John, thank you for making it. Loads of interesting stuff. That footage of the Calthorpe Community Garden was like a Wes Anderson shot! Lovely.

Fascinating as ever John; thanks so much for the usual exhaustive rundown on another most intriguing part of town; exceptionally narrated and filmed as usual - and all for free...

@JohnRogersWalks

2 жыл бұрын

many thanks John - special walk for me

Nice one John , I lived at 535 the CALLY for the first 17 years of my life before going to OZ .I could tell some storys about the CALLY .I used to go to Hungerford prim school and would walk along the CALLY towards Kings Cross then turn right up North rd some times they would bring cattel up from the rail yard which was on south side of the main line out of Kings Cross .,across the bridge and up North rd to the slaught house you would run to get out of the way ,they would in the road and pavment .John if you want any more storys l am ont face book under Derek Castagnetti CHEERS MATE

At 24:45 the breakout cafe used to be the Caledonian Arms and the next pub The Cally was the Balmoral

Always look forward to John's walks and this 1 doesn't dissapoint

The hinterland of Kings X was fascinating and that Crescent was stunning, Thanks John

When I see the windows in those great brick buildings I wonder how many people have looked out of them and what they saw....

Loved that, I'm not from the Cally but my uncles and cousins were. I was also the postman for half of Barnsbury estate and wynford road in 90's when I was 18, I remember the Police divers going in to the canal near Murial street when that happened. Also Clock tower did free tours were you could go in and up on to the balcony, which I did pre covid and was really good. I remember when the Cally pub was Mcloughlin's.

Thanks so much John for keeping your promise and making the Cally video ! I moved away over 20 years ago and now reside in Southend-on-Sea but this has bought back so many memories( good and bad ! ) and you certainly got across the disparity of the area in rich and poor ! Jesus ! it was rough but I lived to fight another day ! Great video and thanks again mate 👍

Thanks for this John. Greetings from Helsinki. I didn't realise you actually lived on the Barnsbury Estate. I lived in Amory House, Carnegie Street, from 1961 to 1971. Went to Vittoria Primary school on Half Moon Crescent. I'd really love to tell you all the old stories about the Barnsbury Estate in the 60's someday. But maybe not appropriate for here. Next time I get to London I'll buy you a beer, maybe in the Lord Nelson, or the Swan, if they're still there, and tell you all the stories, the people, the characters, the dramas!

Lovely video John. When I was a student in the early eighties in London (North London Poly) I lived in the hall of residence (James Leicester halls) next to the "gin palace" on Market Road. it was then called the White Horse and we spent many a night in there and some days. The pub was regularly frequented by famous musicians who were recording in the studio down the road. Good times.

Great video john, I once did a walk from King's cross to Manor House (via Finsbury park) even walked through Caledonian Road.

This right of passage is close to my heart. I used to know a great hash dealer in this area. He's lived in Amsterdam sinxe around 1990.

John, thank you for a fantastic walk, I grew up in Islington from 1962 and remember the cattle market well, where the tennis courts now exist used to be an abattoir where animals were slaughtered, my uncle worked there, oh what changes. Thanks again John, I love watching your videos, and love your narrative.

Talking "bomb-sites"; Highbury Corner, at the junction of Holloway Road, St Paul's Road, and Upper Street up-to the Union Chapel, was flattened by a V1 rocket, creating what was to become a regular venue for Guy Fawkes nights for hundreds of people from the Sutton, Laycock and Clifford mansions. Eventually a large roundabout covered the site. I recall from the 50's, watching the demolition of a bombed house on the corner of Station Road and Upper St next to The Cock public house, when a perfectly intact car was found inside, much to the surprise of the demolition blokes! Grotesque green prefab offices were erected on the site, destroying "our" playground!

Been watching your videos for a few months now to get an idea of the areas in and around London. Just got back from London on vacation and I walked some of the streets I saw in your videos. I like your style and story telling and the passion that you put into it. Thank you.

Well I never realised the building they used to film Poirot was in Clerkenwell. I remember they also used the former Butlins Ocean Hotel Art Deco building for one episode and I watched them filming. Looks to be another interesting walk.

@maggiesamuels2937

2 жыл бұрын

They also used a building near Clapham Common for filming poirot

@highpath4776

2 жыл бұрын

@@maggiesamuels2937 Another I think was just south of Shepherds Bush on the road to Hammersmith.

@MrBlaxjax

2 жыл бұрын

Not quite! Poirot's block of flats is in charterhouse square in the City of London, round the corner from Smithfield Market.

Brand new to your channel but I love it. I don’t live in England anymore and to see all the areas I lived in is super nostalgic and a great trip down memory lane. Also some changes too. Thanks a lot for a great video 👍👍

@JohnRogersWalks

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Neil - welcome to the channel

Great film John! I remember living at 442A Caledonian Road which was a poorly built place where there used to be stables. I used to work at 150 Caledonian Road too. The road is so long it changes several times along its length, from genteel to rough and back again.

Lovely. I lived at the top of the Cally in the 90s and Noughties, and regularly walked down it to the canal, along to Camden and then back of a weekend. Lots of great pubs and the madness of Camden Market to meet pals at. Shame you didn't do the ice house. The Cally's tradition of radicalism goes in many directions - the Italian hairdressers in the late Victorian and early Edwardian days were hotbeds of anarchism. And the criminal families certainly had their fingers in some pies when I was there, especially in the letting market; tales of young people coming to London and getting mired in badness due to taking the wrong basement flat. But I really loved the energy and openness of the place, even if the grim gothic shade of the nick spread out quite a long way - I always found the area immediately north of the park, between the Cally and York Way, to have uncomfortable vibes.

There is another bit of Cally Market that survives. In the SE corner there's some tiling which I believe is where the toilets were located. Pre-pandemic they used to run tours up the tower. Great views of London and you can see the drainage lines for the market in the grass

Thanks John this was a fascinating walk in part of London I only partly know. Researching family history has shown me that my maternal grandmother was born in Twyford Street 1904 and her mother lived in Caledonian St, Battlebridge and area around Pentonville in 1890s and turn of century. It really blows my mind as I know Grays Inn area so well and never went that little bit further north! Maybe I could feel the dark side? ☺️

Another fine video. I remember that area from the 60s when it was a bit tasty-so much improved since so it was possible to visit a cafe up Cally Road without being mugged!

You indicate it was unlikely a chap purchased a Mummy - but during the 19th Century, the great stock of mummies in Egypt was used for fuel for the steam boilers of railway engines on the Cairo-Khartoum line! The ancient resins used as a coating on the mummies meant they burned extremely well!

Marvelous memories, thank you. You walked by where I started work in 1964 233 Greys Inn Rd, it was called Terminus Telephone Exchange in those days and you gave me a brief glimps of the building. My mum worked on the Cally by Callidonia Rd Underground Station.

@raye402

2 жыл бұрын

Hi I remember being an apprentice technician with the North Postal Engineering section( Royal Mail) at Mount Pleasant whose tel no was TER 4272 - in the 60s - 80s - Memories !!

Lovely enlightening video John thank you. My dad Nan and pops lived in Islington n5, quite near the original arsenal. Barnsbury was a name dad always mentioned. I believe he played for barnsbury boys football. Yes their old house would now be worth a small fortune it's true about this area. All the best John.

I think that was that girl from Liverpool in the canal..her sister lived in Archway..that guy did loads up n down the country and in Holland too if it's the right one.. Your covering my tracks..I got family from Archway to Kings cross Barnsbury estate too..Thanks for sharing John it looks better on film 😉 Your right about Pentanville my son has asbergers and got into trouble..when the doctor didn't renew his section due to family pleeds he went to leave and was stopped by three male nurses whom he beat up..in Pentanville he had to fight everyday.. there's a reason why Izzy's the way it is..however I believe the Blair's lived quite comfortably

Hi John, great video. We are in London from Shrewsbury and as we are staying in Kings Cross, decided to walk up the “Cally” yesterday. Despite being born and bred in London, (Walthamstow actually), we have never visited this part before. Well worth it though and Caledonian Park was well worth a visit.

Loved this. It was so good. Thank you.

It's moving to hear you speak of your happiness as a young dad through this neighborhood. You must have been either a primary care parent or very close to it, at a time when not every man would have welcomed that work. This video might set the record for pub stories, which might have been your refuge for adult company after the wife's workday. What a hero she is, to have supported you in this unique work. This video could easily be used for men's groups helping them visualize how to meld family and professional happiness without going the corporate route. I know you have worked many regular jobs as well, but this one really could be a how-to-be-a-dad video.

Always informative and relaxing to watch. Your soundtracks deserve honorable mention as they are utterly sublime. Thank you !

went and looked up the property for sale in Keystone Crescent...Bit scary. Completely run down, with one of those mid-century electric fireplaces in the lounge, and an ancient toilet still in the shed at the bottom of the garden. Right around a million quid 😏

Wherever that might be I’ll check it cos I’m hooked John Thankyou.

Amazing old world free energy architecture

A wonderful oasis Thornhill Square, on my list to visit hopefully this summer ☀️

@JohnRogersWalks

2 жыл бұрын

Cheers Raj - hope you get there

Brilliant half hour upload. Watched 'High Hopes' many times, a classic. Thanks for setting the bar so high John. Cheers from Cornwall.

As always, it's fun to follow John along his walks via Google Maps and explore the area remotely.

@hanaanddad5529

2 жыл бұрын

Indeed. I often do the same.

My whole family came from the Cally , my grandad would carry a tin bath from the market in Market road full of food to feed his brothers and sisters. The Vile a terrible hotel too . God bless all my family who have now passed on . Nice video 👍

Its amazing the number of rivers running under buildings in london.

islington was an area from 1926 where it was commisioned for research to be done into the effects of children being seperated from their parents. explains a few things u mention like the prison prior to being a prison and the council buying back buildings too. dark history that can too easily be lost and not preserved. maybe a few older people still alive in the area to know more. ? thanks for sharing , interesting to see.

Thank you so much for inviting us along on your fantastic journeys of discovery . I myself was born and raised in south east London , Woolwich actually . I now live down in Dorset . I know nothing ever stays the same , but I do miss London . In fact I was for a time , during the 80's , a London Transport bus driver , coming out of Camberwell bus garage . Where most of the routes drove through the West End , using the wonderful old Route Masters , or RM's as they were affectionately known . A truly iconic piece of British engineering at it's best . I was on the 3's , coming down from Crystal Palace, through the West End , and ending up at Parliament Hill Fields . I loved that route , it was so interesting from beginning to end . I still think of myself as a Londoner , regardless of where I now live . In fact , that's where I'll end up . As I've booked my burial place , in a big old Plumstead church yard , where I once came across the grave of a soldier who was lucky enough to survive the battle of Rorke's Drift . I wonder if you would be interested in doing one or two walks around some of the old London burial grounds . In themselves , some of those headstones can tell a story or two of times gone by .

Very enjoyable video, full of fascinating historical detail and anecdote - showing how the past shapes not only the present cityscape, but also our experience of it.

My old man told me the clock tower was used by the German's as a guide on bombing mission's, we use to live in peddlers way off market road,they were pre fabs ,loved it as a kid. Never moved far from the cally until now ,I'm in Belfast but always proud to be a North londoner

@hasanhuseyin191

Жыл бұрын

I used to live in Pedlars Way too (1965 -77) but now you'd never guess that a little enclave of pre-fabs ever existed there its so different. Like yourself always lived within a stones throw from the Cally but not now, I now live in Cork but still a North Londoner at heart!

There were 4 pubs on each corner of the 'Cally Park' (clock tower park) the bull, the white horse, the lion and the lamb.

Just see this video...I used to go to gigs in the pub near Copenhagen Street it was called the red eye 👁 back in 2000-2004...a sadly missed venue...although the carpet was so sticky your boots stuck to it

just watched this for the first time that restaurant on the corner of Northington street where you kicked off the walk was the first laundry featured in the first episode of Minder i clocked that because we had to stop work so they could film it anyway find your videos relaxing as they are informative cheers

That was a labour of love John. You were in your element.

Thank you John, thus walk was very nostalgic for me too. I lived in Malvern Terrace, halfway up Richmond Avenue until I was 16yrs old. I joined that Library at aged 5yrs and walked once a week ti change my books, played on the swings in Thornhill gardens at least once a week. I had many friends in my class who luved in those houses. The Cally was a 'No Go' area unless with an adult, many relatives lived in the old houses that were there then. I watched then knock down the prefabs plus those beautiful Georgian houses to build Barnsbury Estate, many of my relatives and glass mates/friends lived in those houses then some moved back into the first blocks of the estate and also Priory Green. I could tell you, but I won't of many characters and happenings that went in that area. 1961 we mived to Bourne Estate in Holborn so I had to bus to Barnsbury to finish school then worked in Lombard St. I had relatives who were Publicans, Printers, taxi drivers. But my favourite was my Aunty Alice's stories. She worked as a seamstress for B&H and often had to do gown alterations, in the wealthy ladies homes all around the area of then Barnsbury, she went in to live in Barnsbury St. when she married. I also learned to swim in the indoor pool in the Cally. Sorry to waffle on, thanks so much for the memories 💕

@Lucysmom26

2 жыл бұрын

Feel free to waffle, I love the stories locals tell in this channel's comment section.

Thanks John for another excellent video. Bob.

Nice one here, John. I'm glad that you point out that not all of Islington is inhabited by the 'north London litterati' or some such nonsense, It remains, however, the least 'green' borough in London, despite the influx of pretentious poseurs, whose offspring, no doubt go to schools out of borough.

Really enjoyed this, I.m from Glasgow but I lived at Venn on the Barnsbury estate for a couple of years while I worked in London in the early 90's thanks for filling in the gaps in my memory.cheers

Proving that every inch of the London palimpsest has a story to tell. Thanks John; much appreciated.

@JohnRogersWalks

2 жыл бұрын

Cheers Arthur

Moved away from Hackney some time ago. I’m sure Jack started from a market barrow stall in Well Street. Maybe he moved around selling in markets on different days. I do like your mix of country and city walks especially the last river ones. Take care.

Wonderful walk John,and all your memories and anecdotes of the Caledonian Road area made it so enjoyable and very interesting!!

@JohnRogersWalks

2 жыл бұрын

thanks Mam

A lovely nostalgic walk John . There was a close call when the scooter almost got knocked off when he came out of the junction.

@JohnRogersWalks

2 жыл бұрын

The scooters round there really run the gauntlet- I saw a few incidents just like that one

Many great details I am fascinated to hear about the streets London

Your story telling is always on point. I must order some of your books. Another great video and walk for my Sunday off.

@JohnRogersWalks

2 жыл бұрын

many thanks Brandon

@brandondean8060

2 жыл бұрын

@@JohnRogersWalks Absolutely 👌🏾

Ah John, so many memories. Even as an `outer` like you I got to know these places well over the 80`s and 90`s. Lovers of the old film `The Ladykillers` would know the area too. One day I went to find the famous railway bridge location off Copenhagen Street. Of course it wasn`t there any more! Duh! The disappearing nature of London. Many thanks dear chap. RP

Lots of pubs in this one John.

Great work, John. I was a bit slow watching this episode, just watching it now. I couldn't believe they've demolished Andrew's Restaurant. For goodness sake! It really pains me to say this, but as much as I love watching your channel (believe when I tell you, "It's great!"), London is feeling more and more like ghost of its former self, whereby we pretty much now have to imagine really hard what London used to be; that it was more than just a city where people simply come to work their jobs. It feels so disheartening, to me anyway, to always be saying "This used to be here. This used to be there. We used to have this. We used to have that. We used to live, now we just exist" etc. I'm really glad you begun this episode (again, I really enjoyed it) by alerting us of the demise of a community icon that was Andrews among many other things also. Symbolism speaks a thousands doesn't it.

@alexkennedy9514

2 жыл бұрын

Fear not, Andrew’s has just moved to the west side of Grays Inn Road. Not quite the same but it lives on! In fact I think John stopped outside it on the video seconds after filing the former building, but hadn’t spotted it had moved. Long live Andrew’s caf.

Superb...👍.

I always say, nostalgia is a thing of the past.

Thank you John. Fascinating, as ever...

Happy to see you after your short Easter Time rest. Deep & lightly dark walk this time.. Enjoy you & information just the same. Always new knowledge to me. Viewing from eastern part of Tennessee ( in USA.) Enjoyed. Thank you Mr. John Rogers.

Thanks John, another lovely walk and I'm not even tired. Cheers.

@JohnRogersWalks

2 жыл бұрын

thanks Diana

Used to be so rock and roll xxx thank you and Happy Festival of chosen devotion lol . Xxx