Monthly Archives: November 2021
London in Quotations: Samuel Johnson
Sir, if you wish to have a just notion of the magnitude of this city, you must not be satisfied with seeing its great streets and squares, but must survey the innumerable little lanes and courts. It is not in the showy evolutions of buildings, but in the multiplicity of human habitations which are crowded together, that the wonderful immensity of London consists.
Samuel Johnson (1709-1784), The Life of Samuel Johnson
London Trivia: Where is Lucan?
On 7 November 1974 nanny Sandra Rivett was murdered in Lower Belgrave Street and her boss, Lord Lucan vanished. In his absence, the inquest into Rivett’s death named him as her murderer, the last occasion in Britain a coroner’s court did so.
On 7 November 1665 the London Gazette was first published as the Oxford Gazette, renamed on 5 February 1666 when Charles II returned
Reggie Kray and Frances Shea’s photographer at their wedding at St James the Great, Bethnal Green Road in April 1965 was David Bailey
Dr Samuel Johnson once owned 17 properties in London, only one of which survives – Dr Johnson’s Memorial House in Gough Square
18th century Hampstead was a spa resort where people came to take the waters which reputedly had health giving properties
The House of Commons’ press gallery bar is named Moncrieff’s in honour of respected political journalist, Chris Moncrieff – a teetotaller
Actor, dancer, comedian and clown Joseph Grimaldi lived at 56 Exmouth Market, Islington from 1818 to 1828, there is now a park off Pentonville Road named after him
Coram’s Fields park and playground in Bloomsbury is unique in that adults are only allowed to enter if accompanied by a child
The sport of golf, which originated in Scotland, was first played in England on Blackheath in 1608. The Royal Blackheath Golf Club was one of the first golf associations established (1766) outside Scotland
London’s heavily congested streets mean that a taxi’s average speed of 17mph is slower than that attained by Hansom cabs over 100 years ago
The ‘porter’ style of beer was officially invented at the Bell Brewhouse in Shoreditch by Ralph Hardwood in 1722
Marc Isambard Brunel came up with his idea on how to dig the Thames’ Tunnel whilst in debtors’ prison watching a shipworm bore through wood
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.
Test Your Knowledge: November
As David Bowie sang in his seminal song – Changes, this month’s quiz is about changes that have been made in London. As before the correct answer will turn green when it’s clicked upon and expanded to give more information. The incorrect answers will turn red giving the correct explanation.
1. On what product was the image updated to show scaffolding?
HP Sauce
CORRECT To mark the 160th anniversary of Big Ben’s first chimes, HP Sauce bottles now show the iconic tower in its current scaffolding-swaddled state. The new labels will stay on bottles until sometime in 2021 when it’s hoped the iconic clock tower is fully restored.
House of Commons tea
WRONG To mark the 160th anniversary of Big Ben’s first chimes, HP Sauce bottles now show the iconic tower in its current scaffolding-swaddled state. The new labels will stay on bottles until sometime in 2021 when it’s hoped the iconic clock tower is fully restored.
Tourist postcards
WRONG To mark the 160th anniversary of Big Ben’s first chimes, HP Sauce bottles now show the iconic tower in its current scaffolding-swaddled state. The new labels will stay on bottles until sometime in 2021 when it’s hoped the iconic clock tower is fully restored.
2. . In 2013 Roger Federer was told to change his shoes during Wimbledon – why?
They had Adidas branding
WRONG They had orange soles, and players are meant to be dressed in all white.
They had orange soles
CORRECT They had orange soles, and players are meant to be dressed in all white.
They were built up, thus giving him an advantage
WRONG They had orange soles, and players are meant to be dressed in all white.
3. In 1905 two brothers named Stratton were convicted of robbery and murder at a paint shop in Deptford High Street. What methodology was used to secure convictions and change detection?
The first case in which fingerprints were successfully used to convict
CORRECT On 27th March 1905, Chapman’s Oil and Paint Shop was raided and the shopkeeper murdered. A thumb mark was left on the emptied cash box. Using a method of identification that had been in use for a couple of years, it was the first time the Crown achieved a murder conviction and one of the first in the world to use the methodology still in use today.
Their getaway car, which had an early number plate was identified leading to the police tracking them down
WRONG On 27th March 1905, Chapman’s Oil and Paint Shop was raided and the shopkeeper murdered. A thumb mark was left on the emptied cash box. Using a method of identification that had been in use for a couple of years, it was the first time the Crown achieved a murder conviction and one of the first in the world to use the methodology still in use today.
The first identikit portrait from a witness, the local milkman
WRONG On 27th March 1905, Chapman’s Oil and Paint Shop was raided and the shopkeeper murdered. A thumb mark was left on the emptied cash box. Using a method of identification that had been in use for a couple of years, it was the first time the Crown achieved a murder conviction and one of the first in the world to use the methodology still in use today.
4. Which Underground station was known as Westminster Bridge Road until the name was changed in 1917?
Lambeth North
CORRECT The station was opened by the Baker Street & Waterloo Railway on 10 March 1906, with the name Kennington Road. On 5 August 1906, when Elephant & Castle station was opened, the station’s name was changed to Westminster Bridge Road in July 1906 and it was again renamed, to Lambeth North, in April 1917.
Westminster
WRONG The station was opened by the Baker Street & Waterloo Railway on 10 March 1906, with the name Kennington Road. On 5 August 1906, when Elephant & Castle station was opened, the station’s name was changed to Westminster Bridge Road in July 1906 and it was again renamed, to Lambeth North, in April 1917.
Southwark
WRONG The station was opened by the Baker Street & Waterloo Railway on 10 March 1906, with the name Kennington Road. On 5 August 1906, when Elephant & Castle station was opened, the station’s name was changed to Westminster Bridge Road in July 1906 and it was again renamed, to Lambeth North, in April 1917.
5. What was Marble Arch before it changed to its current position in well – Marble Arch?
It was at the entrance to Buckingham Palace
CORRECT The Marble-covered arches sat at the entrance to the courtyard of Buckingham Palace was only meant to be walked under by Royals and members of the Royal Guard. Today in its present position, only Royals pass through the central arch.
It spanned Park Lane before the road was enlarged
WRONG The Marble-covered arches sat at the entrance to the courtyard of Buckingham Palace was only meant to be walked under by Royals and members of the Royal Guard. Today in its present position, only Royals pass through the central arch.
It stood outside Paddington Station
WRONG The Marble-covered arches sat at the entrance to the courtyard of Buckingham Palace was only meant to be walked under by Royals and members of the Royal Guard. Today in its present position, only Royals pass through the central arch.
6. Which Underground line changed direction?
Northern Line
WRONG The Circle Line has taken on a new shape. It is now more like a lasso, or a figure six turned on its side, with a beginning and end. The old circle has been broken at Edgware Road, in west London, and stretched all the way to Hammersmith.
Circle Line
CORRECT The Circle Line has taken on a new shape. It is now more like a lasso, or a figure six turned on its side, with a beginning and end. The old circle has been broken at Edgware Road, in west London, and stretched all the way to Hammersmith.
Bakerloo Line
WRONG The Circle Line has taken on a new shape. It is now more like a lasso, or a figure six turned on its side, with a beginning and end. The old circle has been broken at Edgware Road, in west London, and stretched all the way to Hammersmith.
7. Which Underground line changed its name on the day it was opened?
Crossrail
WRONG Originally the Jubilee line was to be named the Fleet Line after the river Fleet that runs through the capital. A name change happened when London Transport was planning to introduce the Silver Jubilee bus line in anticipation of the 25th anniversary of the Queen’s reign. They re-named the Tube line instead. Crossrail renamed the Elizabeth Line has yet to open.
Central Line
WRONG Originally the Jubilee line was to be named the Fleet Line after the river Fleet that runs through the capital. A name change happened when London Transport was planning to introduce the Silver Jubilee bus line in anticipation of the 25th anniversary of the Queen’s reign. They re-named the Tube line instead. Crossrail renamed the Elizabeth Line has yet to open.
Jubilee Line
CORRECT Originally the Jubilee line was to be named the Fleet Line after the river Fleet that runs through the capital. A name change happened when London Transport was planning to introduce the Silver Jubilee bus line in anticipation of the 25th anniversary of the Queen’s reign. They re-named the Tube line instead. Crossrail renamed the Elizabeth Line has yet to open.
8. The Theatre, Shoreditch, opened by James Burbage in 1576, was one of London’s earliest playhouses. It was taken in 1598, and repurposed for what?
The seating ended up used as seats in public toilets
WRONG The Globe was reconstructed on Bankside using much of The Theatre’s components. Shakespeare had a share in the new theatre staging Romeo and Juliet, Othello, Macbeth and King Lear here.
The thatch was used to burn Burbage for heresy
WRONG The Globe was reconstructed on Bankside using much of The Theatre’s components. Shakespeare had a share in the new theatre staging Romeo and Juliet, Othello, Macbeth and King Lear here.
The timbers were used to build The Globe on Bankside
CORRECT The Globe was reconstructed on Bankside using much of The Theatre’s components. Shakespeare had a share in the new theatre staging Romeo and Juliet, Othello, Macbeth and King Lear here.
9. During World War II the All-England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club at Wimbledon changed from hosting tennis tournaments to what?
Allotments
CORRECT During the war Wimbledon was used to grow vegetables, the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden became a dance hall.
A billet for GIs
WRONG During the war Wimbledon was used to grow vegetables, the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden became a dance hall.
An army parade ground
WRONG During the war Wimbledon was used to grow vegetables, the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden became a dance hall.
10. Following a petition from Arsenal Football Club, Gillespie Road underground station in Highbury was re-named Arsenal (Highbury Hill) in 1932. For five months in 1939 which other London sporting locale had its own dedicated tube stop?
Craven Cottage, Fulham
WRONG On 11 June 1939, the St. John’s Wood station on the Metropolitan line near the famous cricket ground was renamed Lord’s Station. Unfortunately, the extension of the Bakerloo (now Jubilee) line to Stanmore that November resulted in the creation of another station serving St. John’s Wood. During the war, the Lord’s Station was closed and never reopened.
Lord’s Cricket Ground, Marylebone
CORRECT On 11 June 1939, the St. John’s Wood station on the Metropolitan line near the famous cricket ground was renamed Lord’s Station. Unfortunately, the extension of the Bakerloo (now Jubilee) line to Stanmore that November resulted in the creation of another station serving St. John’s Wood. During the war, the Lord’s Station was closed and never reopened.
White Hart Lane, Tottenham
WRONG On 11 June 1939, the St. John’s Wood station on the Metropolitan line near the famous cricket ground was renamed Lord’s Station. Unfortunately, the extension of the Bakerloo (now Jubilee) line to Stanmore that November resulted in the creation of another station serving St. John’s Wood. During the war, the Lord’s Station was closed and never reopened.
Johnson’s London Dictionary: Routemaster
ROUTEMASTER (n.) Stagecoach with two floors manned by a clippie with a happy disposition ensuring the publik is taken to their destination safely. Now replaced by a leviathan robustly driven by a man with a sombre demeanour
Dr. Johnson’s London Dictionary for publick consumption in the twenty-first century avail yourself on Twitter @JohnsonsLondon
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