A year going left, or technically right...

By that I mean, while it is left of my office, this month I've mostly encountered this area of Greenwich on my way to work rather than escaping at lunchtimes to explore.  So as I've been wandering through it, I've technically been going right. It's been a busy time at work and I've been a bit slack at taking proper lunches, which is something I need to get better at. 

But whether I've been walking left or right is no matter, I've got some photos of the area close to Maze Hill station to share this month. I couldn't help but notice that now with plenty of leaves down, I seem to be matching my wardrobe to the autumnal colours too. I suspect I'm not alone in that.

Autumnal colours - clothes and leaves

Now this building doesn't look much from the outside, but it is the Maze Hill Pottery and a fascinating place - I've been inside before, but not for a while, and of course there's no chance to repeat that visit on my way to work, one day maybe...

MAZE HILL POTTERY

MAZE HILL POTTERY

Just along from the pottery is what you'd be forgiven is an ordinary looking row of terraced houses; their offset nature gives them an interesting outline, but it isn't that which has me fascinated. At first glance they look ordinary don't they?

a traditional row of terraced houses in Greenwich, or are they

But in many of the basements there's work going on. And a lot of work, from glances around the back (from the street, nothing more!) it's clear there's a building site in operation.  Clearly I know little more about these buildings, and I've seen very little change in quite a while, but I'm keen to watch how this develops.

builders in the basement
 
meanwhile net curtains and window boxes on the ground floor

And above the dusty and empty basements, life it seems goes on - complete with pretty window boxes - on the upper levels.  Definitely a case of watch this space!

Around the corner there's a great example of how a street has been blocked off to traffic with concrete blocks, but somehow they've become a feature and what looks to be a communal space rather than a concrete rat run.

Making the most of concrete blocks that have pedestrianised a road

In the distance you can just make out the almshouses. These are known as The Hatcliffe and belong to the Hatcliffe Charity, which I've learnt has a fascinating history.  These date back to 1857, but for 250 years prior to that the charity founded by William Hatcliffe, who was thought to be a courtier from East Anglia or Lincolnshire had distributed money to the poor in Greenwich 250 years before these almshouses were built.

almshouses with sunflowers and a red front door in greenwich

They look to be well cared for with the gardens proudly sporting fantastic sunflowers and roses peeking through the railings. 

roses in bloom peeking through the railings in greenwich

So a little bit of Greenwich's history - I told you it didn't matter if I was walking left or right didn't I? And in the process I got to learn a little bit more about where I live too.  I've no idea what next month's post will bring, but I'm pretty sure there'll be another gem to share.