Exploring Somers Town (and Drummond Street) around Euston and St. Pancras

A look at some of the streets around Euston Station threatened with demolition for HS2 including the Bree Louise pub. A lunchtime veggie curry in Drummond Street. Then a wander through Somers Town including Brill Place, Charlton Street Market, and Ossulstone Estate.
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[@SirPrancelot1]

Fascinating. Used to do tai chi in Drummond Street, the other side of the main road from the curry houses, in 1981/82. Hardly anyone had heard of it then, outside the Chinese community. I was in my late teens and wanted to start doing a martial art and saw an article in a magazine about different ones which included tai chi as well as judo, karate etc. I was interested and luckily enough Master Chu had opened one of the only teaching centres in the UK in Somers Town. Glad to see that on google maps there are still restaurants there. With HS2 and property developers I was wondering how much of it had been destroyed in the past three years. Thanks John.

[@sandrasmith3207]

Great walk. Reminded me of when I was a VAT inspector in the late 70s and this was part of my patch. I was only 21 and they sent me to do an inspection of a very seedy sauna club in Eversholt Street!

[@user-ub1dz8js7s]

A Sauna Club in Somers Town LOL yes must have been 100% legit !

[@andrewsmith3613]

I lived on Polygon road in Somers town from 2007 to 2009 with my mates. Happiest days of my life.

[@EvaMissDestruction]

My dad was born in Drummond Crescent and they are building on the house where he was born. My parents lived on the corner of Camden Street when I was born. Unfortunately so much of it is being demolished due to progress which is so sad. Thanks for doing this vid, I watch your vids often and really enjoy them, nice to hear and remember the sometimes forgotten history of London 😁

[@kadathsmith]

Thanks again for another sublime video John. I grew up in Kings cross and went to Sir William Collins Secondary school in somers town, they later re-branded it as South Camden community school as it had a bit of a reputation. The back of Euston was my stomping ground at that age, my mates lived in Tolmer square estate and to be honest it was always rough as you know what but It will be sad to see it go.

[@lilsquige9452]

kadathsmith they re-named the school again. They’ve renamed it regents high

[@micharein2213]

This was a great video - thank you very much for making it. I lived in Somers Town for 18 years, so this was super nostalgic for me. If you ever want a tour of the northern part of Somers Town I would love to show you round. Also, you're right about the Old Church being a different walk. The boundaries of Somers Town are very clear and the churchyard is on the other side of the boundary road. Being blocked on all four sides, by Euston and St Pancras to the West and East, then Euston Road and Oakly Square on the South and North gave us a strong sense of identity. No mistaking when you're home in ST!

[@gloverdragon6854]

Somers town is in Camden borough BUT would you say that somers town is its own town separate from Camden town which is also in Camden borough? Also is euston regarded as a town or just the names of the train links?

[@elgee6202]

That's interesting. I've always taken Somers Town and Bloomsbury to be opposite sides of Euston Road, with Somers Town starting/ending on Chalton Street, Ossulston Street, or Eversholt Street. But I never considered it to be separate from St Pancras and Kings Cross, that St Pancras and Kings Cross were separate from each other, or that Euston could really be described as a 'place' in its own right! Where, in your view, does Somers Town end and become any of those other places? Is Mornington Crescent station in Somers Town? What distinguishes St Pancras from Kings Cross? I'm very curious for a local's view of these.

[@vijyapatel6264]

Thanks John for sharing, I worked around the area during 2004-2017 in Community Engagement, and have been fascinated by its history and diverse communities that have helped to change and shape the cities around stations of transient nature such as Kings Cross

[@nzd3742]

The old station you showed was the Charing Cross, Euston and Hampstead Railway (CCE&HR) original, one of many of similar design by Leslie Green (there's a list on his Wikipedia article). Opened in 1907, its use as an actual station was rather shortlived owing to its proximity to the City and South London Railway (C&SLR) service. The two services would ultimately merge to form the Bank and Charing Cross branches of the Northern Line. Both of the tube stations were closed in 1914 and access was built into the mainline station. The C&SLR station was later demolished to make way for Euston House, but this one was repurposed as an electricity substation and ventilation shaft.

[@kevr5944]

At 1:55 on the film you are looking at a cafe across the road, the black door next to it was used by The BBC for their 'Sherlock' series. They used that door and said it was Baker Street. Good film thanks.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks for that info Kev

[@theonlyantony]

Great curry houses. When I lived in Camden Mews I could walk there for a curry. Also good ASA Kusa Japanese place at top of Eversholt St is great

[@sianwarwick633]

Well that walk around Euston and behind St Pancras was quite terrific. I think the Ossulston buildings came in for a refit just after the time of your walk. The whole area south of Euston Road is gently curious too

[@dawndevereux263]

Thanks for another relaxing video. Too bad so many historical sites are being torn down. Those are the sites that always give the most character to a location. Really enjoyed the walk. Keep them coming. Hope the book is coming along well.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thanks so much Dawn - I've done some more work on the book this week, coming along nicely if a little slowly, half-way there now

[@markwilliamson6884]

When I worked at the BL used to occasionally go and get lunch in Drummond Street! I'm less than convinced by HS2 and when you walk around the back of Euston and see what is earmarked to go it seems like a big sacrifice so a few people can get to London maybe 30 minutes faster.....

[@JohnRogersWalks]

+mark williamson I agree - there's a lot of opposition all the way along the route I think

[@dolorespinto3106]

So many streets and houses, all that history and atmosphere, all the secrets destroyed to be replaced by bland cubes or towers.

[@royhepper6215]

Another great post John taking me thru my monthly trips down memory lane .....Drummond street and the surrounding area used to be my playground in the late 40's and all of the 50's. one of my favourite pastimes was visiting Euston Station namely the Doric Arch. Watching your video John has prompted me to take my camera with me the next time im in the area .... as you said there will be quite a few buildings gone once the works for the new station get under way. I am 73 years young and have decided to up the amount of times i retrace my younger steps as time is'nt really on my side! Thanks for giving me a lot of pleasure with this post.

[@ashembers8414]

Hi John. Great memories and watching this time made me hungry. Worked at the top of Tottenham Court Road in the first half of the nineties and often took advantage of the fantastic lunchtime curry buffets just over the noisy Euston Road. Absolute bargains. Never thought much of the area then but looking back it was quite a cool place to be. Keep up the great videos John.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

many thanks - so rare of me to stop for proper food but really glad I did

[@whyyoulidl]

John, thank you this (I came via your short). I feel privileged that I have a huge number of your videos to catch up in.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Many thanks

[@markprichard5857]

Stumbled upon Levita House today for the first time. Great housing scheme.

[@MrCamparisafari]

i can confirm that the Ossulstone Estate really does look like the karl marx hoff in vienna , that is an amazing estate from the era of red vienna, we need more social housing , keep the city alive john lad ! another fascinating vid

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks for that info See Safari and the kind words.

[@richardgreen1970]

Nice one John,very interesting video,nice reference regarding Stukeley on what was once there but now sadly gone.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thanks Richard - yes I'd like to read more about the Stukeley investigations, I think that park was a military parade ground in the 1700s too

[@paulhayward6723]

Bless you truly great atmosphere and human..I'm Thomas hardy fan...also an l.m.s. fans tuuuuuu..so two birds....hardy as young architect described putting railway through Somers town cemetery...very Hardyish and visual!!!

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thanks for the comment Paul - I'll have to look up that Hardy reference now

[@daveconyard8946]

thank you what a nostalgic post love it x

[@royhepper6215]

Yesterday 21/10/18 i took a trip down memory lane to an area close to my heart.....euston - and i'm afraid my heart got broken! HS2 have already started destroying the area ....half of the gardens in front of Euston Stn have been hacked about and boarded up countless trees cut down and it has'nt stopped there, Euston street and Drummond street have had half of their area boarded up, if you look north up these streets all you see is a mass of white covering shops and houses that once graced these wonderful places and HS2 adverts telling us what they intend to do to the area. But the biggest surprise to me was half way up Melton street the road has been blocked off and this is because HS2 bought st James's park which until 1880 was the last resting place for countless people......the last estimation for the amount of remains that are buried there is over 60,000 and Hs2 has admitted that they have no idea where to relocate these remains! Welcome to Progress!!!

[@jainee4507]

As always a great video to watch. Your videos never seem hurried and are always good to sit back and relax to. Would enjoy seeing you go south of the river into areas such as Bermondsey and Peckham. Lots of interesting places to explore around there.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

that's a great suggestion - I'm actually currently editing a documentary I've been making in Bermondsey over the last 5 months - that'll go on my other channel Drift Report, but a follow up walk would be great. I was sent to shoot some footage around Queens Road Peckham by the U.N last year would you believe - must go back for a proper wander. Here's that film (I only shot the London footage) kzbin.info/www/bejne/eGXWe62Arb2ghNk Thanks for those great ideas

[@MH-ln6pv]

Thank you: tranquil, thoughtful - there's not enough of this sort thing.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thanks Malcolm

[@JagBetty]

Such an interesting little stroll. That food platter you had looked tasty. Looking forward to your next one.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thanks Jag - that food was delicious and all veggie too

[@zenarobinson3851]

TY! so pleased to discover this! now i see many more of your walks to view! i used to eat many a vegan curry in drummond street, and pre-covid (remember that?) took many photos in that area! :-) (ps it's chalton street, not charlton!!)

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks Zena - looking forward to celebrating the end of lockdown with a curry

[@metvme6888]

Great video always good when you stumble on a hidden gem of a you tubeer like your self

[@JohnRogersWalks]

that's really kind of you - thanks very much

[@w.g.hunter1300]

A walk along the course of the Fleet would be a great vid. I discovered from Gillian Tindall's book on Kentish Town that my grandmother's childhood home at the corner of Highgate and Burghley Road would have been on the banks of the Fleet in olden times.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

I'm not sure why it hasn't occured to me before but I've never actually walked the entire length of the Fleet only the lower reaches. Incidentally it was Gillian Tindall who said the Stukeley burial mounds were the remains of a medieval village

[@lemenelli5100]

Thanks for the lovely wander :)

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thank you for watching Lemenelli

[@docdism]

Really love your videos John and have followed your work from the High Wycombe days when I lived in the town off and on for 20 years. When you look at areas such as Euston and Somers Town and other places that have had migrant communities in I wish you would explore more of that history and place making that has taken place. The presence of South Asian and other newer communities is part of the fabric of places like these and in the tradition of earlier communities of Huguenots and Jewish settlers as well. The same can be said of many parts of East London and given the current climate that we are in more than ever its important that we don't look at this presence ahistorically.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thanks for that insightful comment saqib and for following my work all that time. I quite agree - the role of migrant communities in shaping our cities and culture can often be overlooked or taken for granted - a process that stretches back millennia. I hope to continue to educate myself more about this

[@highoctanecars2149]

Always enjoy your perspective on London John. Thanks for the video. Rob

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thanks for watching Rob - greatly appreciated

[@barry5111]

Interesting walk I used to live in Kings Cross and worked for a company under the old potato market that the British Library now stands on. My great grandmother lived in Drummond street and an uncle owned a shop in Eversholt street that he sold to one of the asians that were coming from east Africa. I used to drink in the Lord Somers pub on a saturday night squeezed in holding my pint while a band banged away. It was supposed to be rough, but usually if you kept your head down you never got interfered with. Interesting story my mother was in the welfare in Chalton street during the war with my older brother who was a baby. She'd just got a brand new pram after being on a rationing waiting list. Then the sound of the dreaded V1 came and she heard the engine stop so she got down on the floor and covered my brother. The big bang came and shook the place up and when she got outside all the mothers' prams had been blasted down the road. She'd thought it sensible to chain her new pram to the railings and the chassis and wheels were still there chained up, but the body had been wrenched off and blasted up the road. Times change the people have changed the buildings are forever being changed, but your memories linger.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thanks for sharing that fantastic story Barry

[@jde9095]

I always enjoy your videos John, Thank you for sharing.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thanks Darrell - really appreciate you watching them - love making these videos

[@john80c]

I used to visit the British Library when I was going to the US Embassy -if I had known about Somers Town then I would have had a good look round

[@dodgyg3697]

Fantastic video. Thought provoking.

[@voxley19]

Really enjoyed this- fascinating.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thank you

[@daveconyard8946]

Thank You

[@AndyKing1963]

great video John - perhaps you should have had at look at Euston Power Signal Box at the end of Cardington Street?

[@JohnRogersWalks]

+Andy King thanks Andy - sounds intriguing, I'll have to take a look

[@AndyKing1963]

hardly on the top tourist sites of the world I'll admit - but when the modernist society do a t-shirt design of the Birmingham PSB perhaps it should at least be noted ;)

[@timdenhard5914]

Hi john Another great video. A friend of mine says that she saw you last night and said hello for me. I can confirm that we have not had the pleasure of a meeting. I did mention to her a while back that I enjoy your videos.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

+Tim Denhard ah yes Tim, thanks for passing on the word about the videos, much appreciated. I'm going to make one on the Loughton Brook at some point

[@howdymartin6258]

John - as you noted I am exploring the back catalogue and, in fact, possibly much of what you filmed in 2017 may already be gone.... vindicating, if indeed it were needed, your decision to document London's diminishing uniqueness. Thank you.

[@hansdewinter4575]

Thank you, John, for this eye-opening video. Would you happen to have any info on shops that existed in the sub-basements of St Annes flats in Doric way? I believe the flat I live in was once occupied by a cobbler of some reputation as I have had a couple of enquiries by previous cuctomers.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks Hans - I'm afraid I don't have that info but the local studies centre should have a Kelly's Directory and that should be able to tell you

[@LiamOFarrell]

Another great video. I often cycled through here on my way to and from work from Euston Station to Mornington Crescent where i lived at the time. Oddly the Camden ripper lived around there. Scary at the time.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thanks - it's always fascinated me from my time living up at the Angel and we'd walk round here with the pram. Not heard of the Camden Ripper, sounds grim

[@LiamOFarrell]

Yes great little streets. Camden Ripper only goes back to 2003. Police searched our bins for body parts. The usual situation where the murder of sex workers doesn't really get much press attention.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

I think I remember this now - there were a number of murders of sex workers in the area around that time, body parts in a suitcase were fished out of the canal near our estate by some kids

[@LiamOFarrell]

That's it yes...

[@drhowslounge]

HS2 St Pancras & King's Cross Bree Louise Pub The London Perambulator?! Some of London's oldest Indian Restaurants: great area for Vegans and Bhuddists and other spice lovers so I've heard - for really Traditional Recipes from certain sections of the Old Silk Road. BTW Bald and Bancrupt was on the Old Silk Road just last week I think with some fun and interesting experiences! The 18th Century Somers Town Coffee House meeting place for refugees and expats from their own Villages, Towns, Cities, Countries and Continents around the nearest Hemispheres. William Stukeley, did I spell that right? Burial Mounds not yet excavated. Hmmm..... "Humps and Undulations" According to Mr Bald, Moldova features the opulence of the Russian and Viennese architecture you mentioned but is a now little beyond repair due to alleged corruptions and embezzlements. A wonder for Abandoned Buildings enthusiasts it is according to the Daily Bald. Does anyone know his real name?

[@littleacornslandscapes2935]

Good one John.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thank you

[@eileentaylor1691]

does anyone know of ampthill square (victorian houses) before the tower block that are there now. the man who never was had been filmed there. i went to st marys primary school and the hopscotch inn club on eversholt street.

[@motorheadmalc]

I wonder if it's time to call all your soundtrack artists together and see if you can release a music compilation. This Other Mixtape?/Soundtrack?... Perhaps?

[@JohnRogersWalks]

that's a brilliant idea

[@MrCamparisafari]

aye ! bandcamp !?

[@Terry-ed1pi]

Nice video.

[@AxlePineapple]

ahh my old neighbourhood.

[@annother3350]

Think I've been to that restaurant. I'm not a veggie but i can make an exception when it's good

[@ErnieCG]

Good video it’s a shame when they pull down old videos

[@JohnRogersWalks]

+ErnieCG thanks Ernie

[@tcpip9999]

Another wonderful walk, in a very interesting part of central London. I didn't know about the Ossleston (sp?) Estate. But I did know about Tolmers square camdennewjournal.com/article/behind-the-battle-for-tolmers-square which makes for an interesting comparison.

[@sianwarwick633]

Like the Camden New Journal , a great community newspaper

[@johnplynch4866]

Great stuff John. I presume you shot this before the housing conference Saturday?

[@JohnRogersWalks]

+John P Lynch thanks John. No I shot it on Thursday- I had family commitments on Saturday before the conference. I imagine it's a bit quieter around there at the weekend

[@isabellacullin4884]

Lived in levita house Somers town 1993 , Somers town coffee house was the local at time, nice video

[@paulmessis1985]

enjoyable video John, but let's face it, the future of London is looking pretty frightening and dystopian.... it's brutalistic for real this time around.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

+Paul Messis agreed Paul - it doesn't look good - hope lies in the suburbs

[@EliteXtasy]

Let's not jinx the suburbs.

[@oildrum101]

1:54 is the speedys cafe from the new sherlock holmes

[@oildrum101]

not that i care for it just caught my eye

[@JohnRogersWalks]

great spot - wish I'd known that, and not so far from the actual Baker Street too

[@annother3350]

The Ravi Shankar at 2:42 - isn't that rhyming slang?! ;0)

[@ErnieCG]

Meant to say old buildings

[@whispjohn]

Diwanas, I know that place, they had a place on Westbourne Grove too, its now gone from there I believe.

[@peterbuckley265]

JOHN, DO YOU KNOW WHERE THE NAME EUSTON CAME FROM. WELL KING CHARLES THE SECONDS SON THE DUKE OF FITZROY WHO HAD LAND < NOW FITZROVIA > TWIXT OXFORD STREET AND THE PRESENT EUSTON MARRIED A DAUGHTER OF THE EARLS OF EUSTON WHO LIVED IN EUSTON HALL NEAR THETFORD NORFOLK AND EUSTON BECAME USED FOR THE LONDON AREA NOW CALLED EUSTON. THE BREE LOUISE HAS BEEN SHUT FOR AT LEAST 2 YEARS NOW AND THE LAST I HEARD IS THAT NETWORK RAIL HAD NOTCOMPENSATED THE OWNER WHO IS LOOKING FOR A NEW PUB TO RUN. KINGS CROSS IS NAMED AFTER A BUILDING LIKE THE MARBLE ARCH, AN OCTAGONAL BUILDING USED AS A POLICE STATION AND A PUB THAT STOOD AT THE NORTH END OF GRAYS INN ROAD 1830 - 1845AND HAD A STATUE OF KING GEORGE THE 4TH ON TOP, SO HENCE KINGS CROSS HAS REMAINED THE AREAS NAME NOWM PREVIOUSLY CALLED BATTLE BRIDGE.

[@gazriley624]

holland park might be a good walk

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Could link them up - I'd thought of walking Paddington to Southall following the railway line

[@gazriley624]

Thats quite a long walk. i love Southall though i always get a Masala Chai there

[@jorgemariozuleta]

Regards

[@vselenautika]

Shane Meadows :)

[@nightmail7962]

Try some night walks if you dare they have a guy in Tokyo that walks around different places.

[@tomgirldouble3249]

Your same age as my son lol 😂

[@macukay764]

Notorious Drummond Street Bangali boys finish now

[@syamin72]

What you on about, they still there

[@alangiles2763]

...Just so that a few businessmen can get to Birmingham 20 minutes quicker - at a time when Zoom, and Covid19 have made face to face meetings otiose

[@oildrum101]

and i never did get the name of nicks wargame

[@JohnRogersWalks]

ah, the one in the Cricklewood video? I'll have to ask him

[@DCHTID247]

Bree Louise permanently closed. :(

[@duncanallister7708]

John that disused tube station dates from between 1900 & 1910 it was designed by Leslie Green.