On 28 April 1772 the world’s most travelled goat died in Mile End. Twice it circumnavigated the world, once with Captain Wallis on the Dolphin and later with Captain Cook’s Endeavour. An Admiralty document vouches for her travels and longevity. The Lords of the Admiralty had, just previous to her death, signed a warrant, admitting her to the privileges of an in-pensioner of Greenwich Hospital, a boon she did not live to enjoy
On 28 April 1994 the Tate Gallery announced the taking possession of Bankside Power Station to convert into a museum of modern art
The Marquess of Queensberry sought permission with a Act of Parliament to shoot motorists whom he thought presented a danger to himself
When renovating Queen Victoria Memorial a workman knocked off her nose, with the bright white replacement she appeared to have snorted cocaine. Alas, it’s now repaired in time for the 2012 Olympics
Playwright Ben Johnson couldn’t afford a normal burial in Westminster Abbey determined by plot size was buried upright standing for eternity
From the reigns of King Charles II to George IV Chelsea’s King’s Road was a private thoroughfare which only the royal family could use
The lions of Trafalgar Square were sculpted from life, artist Landseer used a dead lion supplied by London Zoo until the neighbours complained of the smell. A cat was the replacement
When Regent Street was built windows on its eastern side were larger than opposite to encourage Mayfair residents to cross the road
On 28 April 1923 King George V cut the first turf at the newly built Wembley Stadium,it’s not recorded whether he came back to paint the lines
The name of Blue Post public houses take their title from the markers which denoted the start of a rank for sedan chairs in Georgian London
The drop out rate for ‘The Knowledge’, the stringent test to qualify as a London cab driver is over 70 per cent
House numbers in London always have the lowest numbers starting at the end of the street closest to Charing Cross
Trivial Matter: London in 140 characters is taken from the daily Twitter feed @cabbieblog.
A guide to the symbols used here and source material can be found on the Trivial Matter page.
The Marquess of Queensberry would be worn out here in Colorado where there are 11.5 road deaths per 100,000 population per annum compared to 1.6 per 100,000 population in London.
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Trust the Yanks to go one better!
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