The Tottenham Court Road Frontage I Mentioned Earlier

Wet, with ferns growing out of the rainwater gutters, with the fascia distorted but hopefully not destroyed, a beautiful building nonetheless. Every building of a similar age carries in its structure and design a part of the retail history of London. Tottenham Court Road, the main route north from Oxford Street and the Crossrail hub to the Euston Road, has plenty of potential, plenty of the specialist shops that attract footfall: furniture and furnishings, electronic, Charlotte Street restaurants to the back of it, as well as world class hospitals and institutes: University College Hospital is at its northern end. Treasuring heritage buildings like this one can only help the street succeed in what are transitional times for retailing. This particular building has an emblem carved into the frieze at the top. I don’t recognize it but perhaps someone does.

Pleasing Oxford Street Frontages I Missed Earlier

As we plod around in the rain and snow, it lightens the experience a bit to look up (not when you're crossing the road of course). Have a look at the rooflines. Savour the gables. The first to pictures are of two beautiful but neglected buildings I may have missed earlier in North Oxford Street (the section between the Circus and Tottenham Court Road). Also included is another shot of the beautiful corner building at No. 52, a building I'd love to kinow more about. And coming later today, a beautiful gable from Tottenham Court Road. 

 

More on Oxford Street's Retail Heritage

Two pleasing Oxford Street buildings that I missed earlier from the northern section that runs from the Circus to Tottenham Court Road, both in need of tlc. And another view of the glorious building at No. 42 (52, my mistake), at the entrance of Hanway Place from Oxford Street, in need of celebrating - who knows the architects?

Re-envisioning London's West End

This week I’ve started to have a look others’ research into Hanway Place. Last week on this blog I tried to show how Hanway Street Conservation Area has benefitted visibly from the conservation work done by Westminster Council and others. 
       The lanes are very much older than I thought. The lanes date from the late-medieval period when that same path ran from Oxford Street to Tottenham Court Road. 

       Other cities might well be envious of Hanway Place. London has lots of treasures, but examples of the medieval street pattern in the West End are rather scarcer.

       There is submission to widen the road to allow heavy goods lorries. Of course the commercial success of Oxford Street and its surroundings depends on the constant supply of goods to its shops.
       However, I think there’s a case to be made for publicizing the fact that the West End has a medieval pathway running through it. That’s what people look for in a city. But I think the shops can be confident that they’ll almost certainly benefit.

Tottenham Court Road at its southern end: the entry to Hanway Place is to the left, just off picture.
Picture © As Easy As Riding A Bike blog.

Oxford Street in the Age of Crossrail

This building is in what is known as the low-rent end of Oxford Street - but in fact all the buildings above the shops fronts are magnificent in some way. Given enough TLC, they could transform Oxford Street into a European quarter of distinction.  .

The Gables of Oxford Street North Side

Picturing the section of Oxford Street that runs from Oxford Circus to Tottenham Court Road, but this time the North Side.

Note: these pictures were all taken at noon on Sunday when the low sun had moved to the north - you can see the shadow of the buildings on the opposite side of the street superimposed on the North Side buildings, showing up the beauty of the gables even more imo.

Penultimate Shot of Oxford Street South Side

Fine cladding and fine design reminiscent of Egyptian motifs

Oxford Street: London's New Downtown?

The City of London lost its Downtown, tragically, through fire in the 17th century. But the heart of a city is its Downtown, both for residents and visitors. There is another city, however, the City of Westminster: its heart is Oxford Street. A Cloth Hall (Oxford Market) stood on the northern side of Oxford Street (where Market Square now stands) until the 1880s. The street is commercial and beautiful at the same time. Look at this building, look at those windows, that gable, that sunray stonework above the window pediment. All that stops this building competing with the equally delightful examples in Amsterdam and Brussels is its state of repair. I won't mention the shop front.

Sally Crawford, 30 November 2012

One of the Architectural Gems of Oxford Street

I've no idea what the inside might be like but the exterior would refurb up a treat.

West End Beauties

The start of a series of neglected architectural beauties in and around the West End, this one is near the corner of Soho Street and Oxford Street: look at those windows - and the lease is for sale.