liadnan

Half the world was flying kites when I wandered up Primrose Hill this morning. I wonder where my kite is, and whether I can still fly it...

Here's an enigma for you all. As one comes out of the eastern end of Old Compton Street and crosses the CXR, one lands on a large grating at the divide between the bus lane and the main part of the road. Written on the eastern wall of the pit below that grating is a street name: "New Compton Street". New Compton Street does in fact exist or possibly did, it runs as an extension to Old Compton Street, so at right angles to the sign, but there is now a block of shops, Blackwells and other things in the way, so New Compton Street never joins CXR.

More significantly, the sign is painted on the wall at least seven feet down from current street level -it's difficult to be certain how deep.

I've known and wondered about this for years, but it started to bug me again yesterday, and I haven't found anything in the various London history stuff I own which satisfactorily explains it.

Any ideas?