On 6 October 1985, after police raided the home of 49-year-old resident Cynthia Jarrett in a futile search for stolen property, causing her such a shock that she died from a heart attack, Broadwater Farm Estate erupted into riots, spreading out across London. In total, 230 police officers were injured and one, PC Keith Blakelock, was killed – stabbed 44 times in a frenzied mob attack. His memorial is located on his regular beat in Muswell Hill.

On 6 October 2007 Jason Lewis completed his ‘self-powered’ 13-year circumnavigation of the earth at Greenwich using bikes, kayaks and roller blades

For years inmates on hard labour at Brixton were required to wash their own laundry and that of Pentonville, Millbank and Wandsworth’s lags

On 6 October 1834 The old Palace of Westminster burned down, caused by the burning of small wooden tally sticks which had been used as part of the accounting procedures of the Exchequer until 1826

Lord Horatio Nelson is buried directly under the centre of the dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral, occupying the best spot as he was the first person of national importance to be buried at the cathedral

The equestrian statue of Charles I in Trafalgar Square has the King facing his place of execution outside Banqueting House in Whitehall

Marylebone Station is the one the Beatles are chased into by fans at the beginning of the film A Hard Day’s Night

Dr Johnson, on a drunken overnight wander with friends, offered to help the Covent Garden stallholders set up, curiously the offer was declined

Opened in 1862 Islington’s Business Design Centre was London’s first multi-purpose indoor arena, an early event was a 6-day walking race

The London Cab Trade is the oldest regulated land passenger service in Britain licensed in 1654 – 150 years before the horse-drawn bus

London’s oldest shop could be the Old Curiosity Shop, Portsmouth Street although it is not thought to be the one featured in Dicken’s novel

When Chad Varah started Samaritans at St Stephens Walbrook he used the church’s huge crypt which had remained undiscovered for centuries

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.