More on Westminster

On my way from the office to the tube (if I'm not cycling) I often walk past this beautiful street, known as Lord North Street, that seems to really embody the traditional image of London. I've been walking past, often hopeful that I will be able to capture the street car free, but in all reality that's never going to happen, especially as I'm only there between the hours of 9 and 5, the daily grind.

Most recently on walking past, it was one of those early evening, autumnal moments that was so calm and so beautiful. The light was lovely and it had rained earlier in the afternoon so the ground was damp and the air was crisp with autumn so I took my chances and snapped a pic or two with my phone.

At the end of this lovely street is Smith Square that houses a stunning church and one where I spend the odd sunny afternoon on the steps, eating lunch and reading a book and although it sounds idyllic, this is never a solitary affair as when the sun shines in London, office workers burst forth and colonise every inch of green/step/pavement in an effort to bask in the rays and up their vitamin D.
I confess I've never yet been inside this church but I am always so in awe of it. It's somehow imposing and yet inviting and I always find something reassuring about the architecture of churches, home and abroad. There's also a restaurant in the basement which I also haven't to been but I'll update you once this has been rectified. It certainly promises to be something of a hidden gem of a place.
Anyway, to the detail - while ambling along this street recently I saw on the brickwork of the beautiful houses faded paint signs pointing to 'shelters in this street'. They are, of course, a relic of wartime Britain and how wonderful to see the paint still there even if the shelters to which they point have long since been either blocked off  or converted into plush basement offices or apartments I couldn't see for sure without un petit tresspass.

A little research didn't reveal a great deal more info about these old signposts to safety but the font of knowledge that is wikipedia tells me that previous residents of the street have included Harold Wilson and that the street is named after the 2nd Earl of Guilford, Frederick North, who was known for most of his life under his courtesy title Lord North, and was Prime Minister from 1770-1782. Smith Square is also a conservation area, with good reason. 

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