Twelve Poly Ramblers met at Kings Cross Station for a meander through lesser-known places between Kings Cross and Camden Lock. We began with Keystone Crescent, the houses built in 1846 consisting of charming and compact houses. The London Canal Museum was our next stop, a fascinating exhibition of the history
of canal life in London and the Victorian ice trade that once kept London supplied with ice for chilling food which arrived by canal boat. We made our way through Barnsbury, a fashionable district with well-kept Victorian houses and passing a famous pub completely obscured by greenery, the Hemingford Arms. Continuing down Wheelwright Street we were confronted with the massive
bulk of Pentonville Prison.
We eventually arrived at Caledonian Park where there is a plaque announcing ‘Copenhagen House famous tavern and tea garden stood here from early 17c to 1855. The Caledonian market was held here from 1870s to 1939.’ Caledonian market was the result of a long overdue decision to move Smithfield market with its thousands of cattle, sheep, pigs geese etc. driven from all parts of the country. The sounds and smells of this open air abattoir was finally too much for the City corporation and the market closed permanently in 1939 and became a Bric-a -Brac market.
We stopped for lunch at the Tolpuddle Café. The clock tower there marked the place where a massed march and petition was held in 1834 in support of the Tolpuddle Martyrs, imprisoned for belonging to an early trade union.
After lunch we followed a long straight cobbled mews with an eclectic mix of old and new buildings before ending our walk at Camden Road station.

Hilary .  Photos by Hilary and Nita