Route Gets Jazzy Upgrade

If you’ve ever gone to Courtenay Place, the area most used as a bus depot behind St James Street Station, you’ll know of the railway underpass, providing pedestrians and cyclists a shortcut from the Markhouse Road roundabout to the High Street. This area was route was home to one of the largest East London breweries, hence part of it being called ‘Old Brewery Way’, which is now mostly occupied by new apartments and hip food and hospitality establishments such as The Curious Goat and Beaten by a Whisker (on the parallel Bruner Road).

On the other side of the tracks, where Courtenay Place joins the High Street, you have a radical music venue and café Pulse and Pickle, which sits on the edge of the St James Conservation Area. This juxtaposition is reminiscent of new districts bordering ‘the old town’ commonly associated with other European cities.

The conduit between the two areas is known as the St James underpass, which is right next to red bricked modern apartments called Jazz Yard. This section often felt like a bit of a no-mans-land, and lack of greenery and lighting would deter some commuters from what is otherwise an interesting and practical cut-through. However, this has now changed. Waltham Forest Council have just completed improvements with new greening around Jazz Yard, improved lighting in St James Underpass, and new paving. This coupled with the mural which was installed last year, makes the route far more accessible and pleasant.

So next time you need to travel between Markhouse Road roundabout and the High Street (or even if you don’t and you’re just curious), make sure you check it out for yourself – and why not stop off at the amenities whilst you’re at it!