Photograph of Grimmauld Square, London

[Steve]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, "Geoff Bannister"
<gbannister10 at ...> wrote:
>
> ---  "Steve" <bboyminn@> wrote:
> >
> > Here is a link to a Google Earth Photograph of Grimmauld
> > Square in London. I posted it in the Photo section of the
> > main group, but don't think it would be allowed for 
> > discussion there.
> > 
> > Anyway, here it is. 
> > 
> > http://ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/photos/view/5f1c?b=55
> > 
> > This is within walking distance of King's Cross Station.
> > 
> > Steve/bboyminn
> > 
> > Actually, it is Lons Square just off Liverpool Road in 
> > Islington in North Central London.
> 
> Geoff:
> I can't find a Lons Square listed in my London ABC or on the 
> map off Liverpool Road - I think you might mean Lonsdale 
> Square....
> 
> I'm not quite sure why you chose this specific square as a 
> speculative site for Grimmauld Place. There is also Cloudesley 
> Square, just south of yours which has a very similar layout and, 
> personally, I've always tended to argue for one of the various 
> squares around the Mornington Crescent area, which are also 
> within walking distance of Euston, St.Pancras and Kings Cross 
> railway stations and would fit the required parameters just as
> well.
>

bboyminn:

Right, Lonsdale...it's abbreviated on my map. 

Initially, I took a map of London and drew a circle of about
a 1 mile radius. I suspect it took 20 minutes to walk from
Grimmauld Square to King's Cross Station. Within that circle
I looked for anything that could pass as Grimmauld Square.

See Map -

"Where in the World is Grimmauld Place?"
http://bluemoonmarket.homestead.com/files/hogwarts/12grim.jpg

My conditions were that -

- it couldn't be on a main road or a through street. It
had to be somewhat secluded.
- it has to be reasonably small. 
- the houses must surround a public square. Some squares are
more like a closed off courtyards surrounded by houses. 

For those who prefer the semi-circle 'square', just ever
so slightly south and west of this square is Richmond Crest.

Likely this neighborhood is too ritzy, but I had to find
a place within that circle, within about a 20 minute walking
distance. 

To find the area we are talking about, go straight east from
Regents Park until you come to King's Cross Station, then
go north and east to Islington. Once you find Islington,
look for Thornhill Square which is easy to spot because it
looks like an oval race track, though slightly misshapen.

Just below Thornhill Square and to the right is Richmond
Crest or Crescent, just to the right of that and up slightly
is Lons Sq (Lonsdale Square). North of that you will find
Barnbury Square. Within the 1 mile radius circle these
struck me at the best places given my set of parameters. 

Though again, not being in London, I may have picked a
much fancier neighborhood than is logically correct. But,
the geography of the story limits the choices. (see Map)

Morning Crescent is just south of Camden Town and Northwest
of Euston station. 

Cloudesley Square is possible, but it has a huge building
of some type taking up most of the center of the square and
that doesn't quite seem consistent with the story. 
Cloudesley Square is straight south of and connected by
road to Lonsdale Square.

Personally, I always picture Grimmauld Square as vaguely
similar to a cul-de-sac, meaning that it was a square of 
houses with a small park-like area in the middle, and only
ONE entrances to the square. But I couldn't find anything
that exactly fit my vision. 

If you don't have Google Earth, it is a godsend when you
need to explore places that are very remote from you. I
typed in Geof's suggestion of Morning Crescent, and the 
map took me right to it. 

Your suggestion of Mornington Crescent, London, NW1 is near
Regents Park which would make it about a 5 or 10 minute walk
to the station. That seems too close based on my 
interpretation of how long it took in the book. 

Realistically, the place doesn't exist, but within the 
available geography, I think Lonsdale Square fits the
best.

Just a thought.

Steve/bboyminn