Although these pictures are in my files for 1993, my rather limited diary tells me that they were taken in December 1992 when I made two walks in Islington, but gives no other informations about the actual pictures.
At the time I had no commercial outlet for my colour pictures which were very much personal projects, and one in which details such as location were of no importance.
The rather strange shadow of a car on an unusual frontage
One of several themes that interested me was the popular representation of people – both men and women – in window displays such as these, painted signage and more.
I’ve arranged the pictures in the order they were taken and its clear that several were from the same shop window.
Creeping in at the bottom of the picture is ‘Shy Girl £65’.
After these pictures of shop windows – possibly on Essex Road – I moved on.
This garden and playground is Tibby Place just off Essex Road on Greenman Street, and was the site of the Tibberton Baths. In 1894 a large house, Wontner’s Villa, on the west side of Tibberton Square was bought and demolished and Tibberton Baths built on its site, with mens and womens swimming baths and a laundry, opening in 1895.
The baths continued in use until the early 1980s and after they were closed and left empty a fire destroyed the main building. The baths were then demolished and these ornate Victorian iron arches which had spanned one of the rather narrow swimming pools were salvaged and erected in this small park on the west of the site which was given the name Tibby Place.
Built and opened in 1930 as the Carlton Cinema this was one of noted cinema architect George Coles finest, and is Grade II* listed. You can read more details on the Cinema Treasures web site which states it was taken over by Associated British Cinemas Ltd in February 1935 but only renamed as the ABC Islington in 1962. It closed as a cinema in 1972 and was converted into a Bingo club, continuing in use until 2007, when apparently the government smoking ban in public places made it impossible to continue. It was then bought by a church who are slowly restoring and converting its interior and has been renamed Gracepoint.
A good selection of hairbrushes, combs and other items in the window of this Islington hairdresser.
I rather doubt that service was still available, and certainly not from this window.
‘SYLA for prettier bathrooms’. A rather cheeky picture on public display, blue in two meanings.
‘BEST FOR MILES’ is the claim above the menu, but unfortunately I can read nothing below – it was winter and there was no lighting inside the cafe and the fast colour film I needed to use simply did not resolve enough, and there was a lot of colour noise.
You can see the rather basic Christmas decorations in this picture made shortly before or after Christmas.
I think my next post in this series will be pictures really taken in 1993.
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