On 27 June 1556 over 20,000 people watched the burning at stake of eleven Protestant men and women for heresy, they had a memorial erected to them at St John’s church, Stratford, in 1879.
On 27 June 1967 actor Reg Varney ‘On the Buses’, unveiled the world’s first automated Teller Machine (ATM) at Barclay’s Bank, Enfield
The Old Bailey’s Blind Justice roof statue is unusual in not having a blindfold. Her impartiality is said to be shown by her ‘maidenly form’
In Gough Square off Fleet Street is a statue of Hodge, the pet cat of Dr Samuel Johnson, writer and lexicographer who lived nearby
A macabre statistic is that the most popular suicide time on London’s Underground is around eleven in the morning
Greek Street is named after mass of Greek Christians who arrived in London around 1670 after being persecuted under Ottoman rule
The nude cover shot for John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s 1968 album ‘Two Virgins’ was taken at their flat at 38 Montagu Square
The Prospect of Whitby pub dates from 1520 and is named after ‘The Prospect’ a Whitby registered coal boat moored there in the 18th century
Tim Berners-Lee appeared in the 2012 Olympics opening ceremony – a clueless US TV commentator suggested viewers Google him
The station with the most platforms is Baker Street with 10 (Moorgate also has 10 platforms but only six are used by Tube trains)
Harry Beck produced the well known Tube map diagram while working as an engineering draughtsman at the London Underground Signals Office. He was reportedly paid 10 guineas (£10.50) for his efforts
Colehearne Court in Brompton Road was Princess Diana’s home in the early 1980’s when she charged two flatmates £18 a week rent
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.
Always enjoy the trivia, especially the bits I had never heard of. Halcyon days indeed, when Reg Varney was considered a big enough celebrity to launch the concept of ATMs. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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If you didn’t know Olive was once a stripper!
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And a fire-eater! 🙂
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You popped up in my spam folder
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