I visited some more of the locations where I wrote the stories in my new collection
On the second leg of my journey I visited four unusual places to abandon copies of Unusual Places – three of them in central London – and one on the outskirts. Here’s how it went.
Read about the first stage of my journey here.
View maps of my journeys here.
I made these journeys to celebrate the launch of the paperback and the ebook of Unusual Places.
First stop was Chiswick House and Gardens, where I wrote the beginning of a story called ‘The Marmalade Factory’, inspired by the Victorian Glasshouse. It is still free to get in, like it was when I wrote the story years ago, but the glasshouse was restored 2010. It now houses rare Camellia, which you can see online. (The Beatles played there, back in the day.) I should mention that The Marmalade Factory was also inspired by our visit to see cheese being made at the Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company. In the story I changed the cheese to Marmalade, and located the factory in a Glasshouse.
I abandoned the book on a bench outside the Glasshouse, after recording an extract from the story.
See more pictures from my visit to Chiswick House and Gardens here.
I made these journeys to celebrate the launch of the paperback and the ebook of Unusual Places.
Next I went into Central London, by 190 bus and Circle Line from Hammersmith, to Kings Cross, and I walked up the Euston Road to the British Library. I used to write there when I lived in London – my second novel and my PhD were written in its reading rooms – so it has always been a special place, but I hadn’t visited for a while. (As I approached, I thought fondly of the Chelsea Buns and coffee I used to have on my breaks.) Alas, the Cotton Room, where I wrote part of a story called ‘The British Library’, is no more. There used to be an outdoor balcony where you could take your tea and have a think – I watched the channel tunnel being installed at St Pancras from there and got a birds’ eye view. Although there were no Chelsea buns left, I abandoned the book in the cafe and then made my way back to the Euston Road.
From the British Library, I walked up the road in the direction of Euston, and crossed the road near the Pret (where we used to take our breaks when I sung with The Pink Singers). I walked up the road to Marchmont Street and called in at Gay’s The Word Bookshop to sign some copies of the book. I look a bit red in the face from the walk. Gay’s The Word is in Bloomsbury, and is minutes away from where my son was born. It’s also one of the bookshops I hung out in when I was just coming out. (Silvermoon, which is no more, was the other one.) So suffice to say it’s a very special place.
Next I walked up Marchmont Street to Russell Square tube station and found my way to Marble Arch, where I wrote part of a story called ‘The Smallest House in London.’ I wrote this story in two locations – in a cafe near the site of the smallest house in London, and in the Garden Museum in Lambeth.
The site of the smallest house in London is now a convent, and is close to the former Tyburn Tree – a place of execution that is now a traffic island, would you believe? When I wrote the story it was a while back, so I did most of my research in books about hidden or unusual London, but now you can read about it online. I think the cafe where I wrote the story has been demolished, but (thank goodness) there was a Pret! So I abandoned a book there.
I hopped back on the Central Line to St Paul’s to my final port of call: London’s Guildhall, and site of the ruins of a Roman Amphitheatre. Story-writing wise, this was one of my favourite locations. I wrote ‘The Roman Amphitheatre’ on a sunny day, sitting on a bench in the square. I spent hours there. Again, this was several years ago, and there was no sign pointing to the Amphitheatre, and in my story the main character doesn’t want to admit she doesn’t know the way. When I got there I discovered that there’s now a big banner advertising it – although it is still true that not many people know that you can go and see a Roman Amphitheatre in London. This is the only book that has been found this time round – meaning 3 have been found, and 5 are still out there somewhere.
So, four more books abandoned, I headed for the South Bank Centre to see the Forward Prizes for poetry being announced. It turned out to be a brilliant night out. By the way, if you’re interested in finding out more about Hidden London, then check out the London Walks website. I’ve been on a couple and they are great fun.
Read about the first stage of my journey here.
View maps of my journeys here.
You can take more of a look behind the scenes of Unusual Places here.
I made these journeys to celebrate the launch of the paperback and the ebook of Unusual Places.