#canal — Modernist Delights

Jessop Court, Islington, London, 2025

A red canal boat floats on a calm canal in front of a two-storey brick cottage and a tall, modern block of flats. Trees with autumn leaves border the water, and a white van is parked beside the cottage. The sky is cloudy.

A three-storey block of flats with frosted glass balcony railings, white doors, and windows. Some balconies have planters, potted plants, or washing hanging. There is greenery, including a pine tree, in front of the building. The sky is partly cloudy.

A tall, plain concrete block of flats with white-framed windows stands between two other buildings. The entrance is at the bottom, surrounded by greenery, overgrown plants, and a small fenced-off area in the foreground. The sky above is partly cloudy.

A brown brick block of flats with balconies and a blue hospital sign is seen on a sunny day. Parked cars line the street, and trees with autumn leaves stand nearby. The sky is partly cloudy, and a tall, modern building is visible in the background.

A five-storey block of flats with beige and brown brick sections, large windows, and balconies. Leafy trees stand nearby. The sign reads Assup Court. The sky is partly cloudy and there’s a paved pavement in front.

Previously seen in the spring of 2025.

New and old on Regent’s Canal, Islington, London, 2025

Sunny day on the Regent's Canal, taken from on the water. The foreground features a large, lush green tree. In the middle, there are some 19th century buildings, including a mill and cottage. In the background there is a 1960's mid-rise housing block, all set against a clear blue sky.

I’m not turning this blog into Riparian Delights, I promise. This counts as a Modernist Delight because the housing block in the back is Jessop Court, built 1969. Diespeker Wharf, a Victorian former timber mill & terrazzo and marble manufacturer, and an early 19th century wharf-keeper’s cottage.

Moody Rochdale Canal, Manchester, 2025

Not modernist, but I have a sweet spot for canals.

Glazed staircase in New Mills, 2020

I delved into my photo library looking for something else, but instead I found this glazed staircase at the Swizzels Matlow factory in New Mills in intra-lockdown 2020.

A narrow canal runs beside old brick and glass factory buildings under a partly cloudy sky. The water reflects the buildings and sky. A dirt path lines the canal, with greenery and a corrugated metal fence on the right side.

Canals of Manchester, 2024

A glass-fronted building sits beneath an old iron railway bridge with visible graffiti on walls, including “EGLOMIE” in black letters. Industrial pipes, overgrowth, and urban surroundings evoke a gritty, city edge. The ground is rough and empty.

A tall metal bridge support column with cross-bracing stands by a canal. The column and nearby surfaces are covered in colorful graffiti. Behind it, a brick building with large windows and a wooden fence is visible under the bridge.

This building always intrigued me, coming into the city from the level of the train. It’s just a bar and it’s not actually that interesting from ground level though.