Walthamstow

From Uxbridge at the end of the Piccadilly line in north-west London to Walthamstow at the end of the Victoria Line in north-east London. Whilst Uxbridge won my praise for having well-maintained clocks, the good people of Walthamstow need to "try harder".

The first two clocks are the worst (after that things look up). The Art Cafe at 320 Hoe Street has a faded and partially obscured stopped clock.

Altogether, not a happy clock. Nor is the one a few doors away at the Coffee Lounge:

Moving north along Hoe Street the situation becomes much better. At the junction with Church Hill is the amazing tower on the council's Customer Service Centre. It is rather out of place with its surroundings, but rather marvellous.

Further north on Hoe Street are the delightful premises of White & Sons Funeral Directors

Moving north and on to Forest Road, we come across the magnificent buildings and settings of Waltham Forest Town Hall. Despite the grey skies the atmosphere was very serene.

East along Forest Road at its junction with Wood Street is the Millennium Clock. This is one of several erected by Waltham Forest. Unfortunately at the time the clock was surrounded by roadworks (probably "street scene enhancement").

Moving south to St Mary's on Church Hill (I wonder where that street name came from!)

Onwards to The Mall, to the west of the bus station and to the south of High Street. Oh my love of shopping malls! Actually this one is not too bad and even feels human. And it has a clock.

At the end of the High Street with its junction with Blackhorse Road is this stopped clock on Ronald Brown opticians.

And finally on to Blackhorse Road underground station, with its standard-design platform clock.

Uxbridge

Journey to the end of the Piccadilly line (normally also the end of the Metropolitan Line, but not today due to engineering works).

Uxbridge station is a 1933 design by the well-known Underground architect Charles Holden. The oft-photographed clock is at the end of the middle track, visible from both the platforms and the booking hall.

The booking hall is spacious and has a retro-modern feel to it.

Stepping outside of the station, the first building to strike you is the Market House, a Grade II* listed building completed in 1789. The clock high above in its tower could do with a bit of maintenance, but is functioning (and only a few minutes slow).

At the southern end of the High Street is the altogether more modern Civic Centre, home of Hillingdon council. Construction of this building began in 1973, using 2.8 million bricks [www.hillingdon.gov.uk], and was officially opened in April 1979.

The clocktower, however, originates from the earlier Middlesex County Council building on the site.

Negotiating the delightful subway (!) under the thoughtfully placed and urban fabric sensitive (!!!) dual carriageway brings you to St Andrew's church.

The church was designed by George Gilbert Scott, and was consecrated on 1 May 1865 [www.standrewsuxbridge.org]. And it has this clock:

Retracing our steps up the High Street, hidden behind the Market House is the church of St Margaret's. This is an altogether older church than St Andrews, dating back in parts to the 15th century.

Just along the High Street is the Pavilions shopping centre, although I reached it from the pedestrian ramps from the dual carriageway side (interesting wet patches and stains - another classic piece of 1970's "architecture"). Inside the centre is a rather bizarre tower with stonework doorways etc (real or fake I didn't stay long enough to investigate - readers of previous postings will know my dislike for shopping centres).

The clock itself is rather nice.

At the far end of the High Street are the offices of Tubervilles solicitors, with a good clock.

The summary of Uxbridge? Some good architecture, but rather ruined by 1960's / 70's planning. But clockwise, full marks for having a range a clocks in a small area, all of which were working and just about showing the correct time.

Wimbledon

As the French Open is currently on, let's look at the clocks of Wimbledon - although the hard streets of the urban centre rather than the green courts of the Lawn Tennis Association.

It is always good to start with a pub, in this case the imposing Prince of Wales. Last time I passed here the clock was stopped. As it now shows a different time it clearly has been working, but seems to have stopped again.

Moving down The Broadway, we next come to the clock on the Tesco store.

This not your average architecture for a supermarket, and I believe it was once the town hall. Certainly the clock is more in keeping with a civic building.

Just off The Broadway is Gladstone Road, where you can find the Wimbledon Wine Cellars shop. One face of the clock is working fine (although a few minutes slow), but the reverse face seems to have stopped. It's what alcohol can do to you.

Continuing along the Broadway, the next port of call is the offices of MFS, an "independent financial adviser". A nice well-maintained clock.

Almost opposite is the amazing clock on the Polka Theatre. The overall effect with the theatre name is rather stunning.

I love the stars at the end of the hands.

And finally to Latimer Road, just off The Broadway. This is the Wimbledon Leisure Centre as it is now called, formerly the Wimbledon Public Baths as proudly says in the masonry above the clock.

That's the end of the tour of Wimbledon - well, more properly, of The Broadway.

New balls please!