The Number 32 Route

Thursday 11 April 2019

Before you ask 'where is the 31?' let me explain that the post was written as a draft after we had ridden in it January.  But when it came to be posted, instead of appearing here, where it should be, it published itself between the 15 and the 16. Why? I don't know. Possibly technical support in MK could sort it at some stage, but for the moment, here is the 32. Wow, my tech support is amazing.  It's done.  If you live in South London, or North East London, you will never have seen this bus as it makes it way between Kilburn Park Station and Edgware Bus Station.




I was on my own, as Linda is (I hope) having a lovely time in Lausanne. The journey is meant to take 56 minutes, but in fact took only 45.  Coming out of Kilburn Park Station, I spent the short wait at the bus stop contrasting the late 19th century buildings on one side of the road with the newly built apartments on the left, and then got onto the bus at 9.40.

We passed the Animals' War Memorial Dispensary, opened in 1932 by the RSPCA to mark the sacrifice of animals who died during the First World War, and still operational today. The millions of animals that died (and still die) in conflict zones have no choice, after all, and so deserve a memorial, especially one that is still useful.

We turned left in Kilburn High Street, which is not looking too prosperous these days.  Two Poundlands, and a Primark, indicate the economic needs of this community, but we did also pass Kilburn Market behind its blue fencing, and an M&S Simply Food.

I was also interested to see that the Earl of Derby Pub has deer on its inn sign rather than a portrait of the man himself.  It appears that it was first opened in the 1860s, when the Earl was in government with Disraeli, so it is perhaps an odd name to find in what was then a very Irish area.  Nowadays the predominant community is Muslim, but several pubs can clearly survive.  We also passed the Arthur Murray Dance Studios, named for the American Ballroom dancer who taught the Duke of Windsor, Eleanor Roosevelt and others.
 

 We came to Brondesbury Station, and then rapidly to the two blue bridges which mark Kilburn Station.  There were road works here (the first of the day, which is quite unusual for London in 2019) so I had time to admire the fading mural under the railway bridge.

But I also had time to note the blue signage for the London Cycle Network route 5.  These signs are the only things that mark the route, other than some very very faded squashed-bicycle images on the tarmac.  I must say I was surprised, since Camden is usually better than this. But then the side of the road we were on was Brent and the other side is Camden. These signs persisted - and were the only evidence of the LCN5 - all the way along this scary main road and round the grim roundabout at Staples Corner.  Sadiq Khan has a long way to go to fulfil his election pledge to make London the best cycling city in the world. Though, to be fair, he did say before the election that narrower cycle lanes would ease congestion, so we should not be surprised.

The route then heads along Cricklewood Broadway, past the gigantic Crown Pub.  There were bookies all along the road, and then we came to Beacon Bingo, proudly announcing that it was 'Britain's biggest Bingo Club'.

There are also a lot of Shisha Lounges around here.  They seem to be exempt from the laws which ban smoking in pubic places, but I have found it difficult to follow what councils can and can't do about it all. Clearly, in Brent, they are allowed.


The handsome Pagoda-looking building we passed just in front of the big Wing Yip supermarket proves to be a travel agency.

Then we came to Staples Corner, with its myriad flyovers and roads, and crossed the Silk Stream to get into West Hendon.

There are still some signs of the Irish past of this area, though there are many other communities with their businesses around here.

A new Day Nursery, run by the Aplomb Group, is due to open any day now, though the documentation seems a bit incomplete on the website.  Other notable buildings along here include the portentous Magistrates Court, together with a number of new-build blocks

 

We then passed a lovely wall advertisement, which I concluded must be a ghost sign as the business is now a plumbing supply place and not a motor mechanic's. 

Another lot of road works slowed us all down as we came towards Burnt Oak, and then I was amused to see that  there were two ex-banks either side of the road.  One was apparently just empty, but the one which had been Barclays, and was still labelled as such, had become a Cashino gambling place.  Who needs irony these days?
 

Now we passed the Edgware Community Hospital, then some lovely blossom, and then turned right to note St Margaret of Antioch's fine Church and head into Edgware's Bus Station at 10.25, after an enjoyable tour of bits of North West London.