WRONG The first bollards installed in London were French cannons. So many were captured at the Battle of Trafalgar, that the Government decided rather than waste them, they could protect kerbs from the thousands of iron-shod wheels of London’s carts. A cannonball was often inserted into the barrel, although copied in later years, some originals can still be found near Shakespeare’s Globe.

CORRECT The first bollards installed in London were French cannons. So many were captured at the Battle of Trafalgar, that the Government decided rather than waste them, they could protect kerbs from the thousands of iron-shod wheels of London’s carts. A cannonball was often inserted into the barrel, although copied in later years, some originals can still be found near Shakespeare’s Globe.

WRONG The first bollards installed in London were French cannons. So many were captured at the Battle of Trafalgar, that the Government decided rather than waste them, they could protect kerbs from the thousands of iron-shod wheels of London’s carts. A cannonball was often inserted into the barrel, although copied in later years, some originals can still be found near Shakespeare’s Globe.

WRONG The brown plaque at 16 Gough Square is one of the earliest to survive, having been erected by the Society of Arts in 1876. Shortly thereafter, the society came to an agreement that any commemorations within the Square Mile would be handled by the City of London Corporation. Johnson’s was the only one to have been erected in the City up to that point. It is an anomaly in that it lies within the City of London which has no Blue Plaques commemorating historic sites.

CORRECT The brown plaque at 16 Gough Square is one of the earliest to survive, having been erected by the Society of Arts in 1876. Shortly thereafter, the society came to an agreement that any commemorations within the Square Mile would be handled by the City of London Corporation. Johnson’s was the only one to have been erected in the City up to that point. It is an anomaly in that it lies within the City of London which has no Blue Plaques commemorating historic sites.

WRONG The brown plaque at 16 Gough Square is one of the earliest to survive, having been erected by the Society of Arts in 1876. Shortly thereafter, the society came to an agreement that any commemorations within the Square Mile would be handled by the City of London Corporation. Johnson’s was the only one to have been erected in the City up to that point. It is an anomaly in that it lies within the City of London which has no Blue Plaques commemorating historic sites.

CORRECT By 1953, there were 685 police boxes on the streets of London, but the arrival of the personal radio started to render them redundant. Back in the mid-1990s, Earl’s Court was still a very run-down area with plenty of prostitution and drugs, part of the clean-up was the introduction of a police box to give the local bobby somewhere to use as a local base of operations.

WRONG By 1953, there were 685 police boxes on the streets of London, but the arrival of the personal radio started to render them redundant. Back in the mid-1990s, Earl’s Court was still a very run-down area with plenty of prostitution and drugs, part of the clean-up was the introduction of a police box to give the local bobby somewhere to use as a local base of operations.

WRONG By 1953, there were 685 police boxes on the streets of London, but the arrival of the personal radio started to render them redundant. Back in the mid-1990s, Earl’s Court was still a very run-down area with plenty of prostitution and drugs, part of the clean-up was the introduction of a police box to give the local bobby somewhere to use as a local base of operations.

CORRECT The Webb Patent Sewer Gas Lamp was a sewer gas destructor lamp, designed to remove the dangerous build-up of methane in the sewers, it is the last of its kind in London.

WRONG The Webb Patent Sewer Gas Lamp was a sewer gas destructor lamp, designed to remove the dangerous build-up of methane in the sewers, it is the last of its kind in London.

WRONG The Webb Patent Sewer Gas Lamp was a sewer gas destructor lamp, designed to remove the dangerous build-up of methane in the sewers, it is the last of its kind in London.

CORRECT Aldgate pump has a wolf’s head protruding from its base, said to mark the spot where the last wolf was shot in the City of London.

WRONG Aldgate pump has a wolf’s head protruding from its base, said to mark the spot where the last wolf was shot in the City of London.

WRONG Aldgate pump has a wolf’s head protruding from its base, said to mark the spot where the last wolf was shot in the City of London.

WRONG In 1885 Bismarck, Germany’s Chancellor on a state visit was taken to the Barclay Brewery in Southwark and asked if he would like to partake in a ‘drop’ of the company’s strongest brew. Bismarck was given a half-flagon which he emptied, he then due to a misunderstanding proceeded to down a second. Passing over Westminster Bridge, he ordered his vehicle to stop, alighted and promptly lurched towards a bench. Giving instructions to be woken in an hour.

CORRECT In 1885 Bismarck, Germany’s Chancellor on a state visit was taken to the Barclay Brewery in Southwark and asked if he would like to partake in a ‘drop’ of the company’s strongest brew. Bismarck was given a half-flagon which he emptied, he then due to a misunderstanding proceeded to down a second. Passing over Westminster Bridge, he ordered his vehicle to stop, alighted and promptly lurched towards a bench. Giving instructions to be woken in an hour.

WRONG In 1885 Bismarck, Germany’s Chancellor on a state visit was taken to the Barclay Brewery in Southwark and asked if he would like to partake in a ‘drop’ of the company’s strongest brew. Bismarck was given a half-flagon which he emptied, he then due to a misunderstanding proceeded to down a second. Passing over Westminster Bridge, he ordered his vehicle to stop, alighted and promptly lurched towards a bench. Giving instructions to be woken in an hour.

WRONG Edward VIII was king for only 327 days, so it’s hardly surprising that there are only 57 countrywide. London accounts for 10: Beckenham, Finchley, Mill Hill, Peckham, Southwark (2), NW4, SE6 (2), SE15.

WRONG Edward VIII was king for only 327 days, so it’s hardly surprising that there are only 57 countrywide. London accounts for 10: Beckenham, Finchley, Mill Hill, Peckham, Southwark (2), NW4, SE6 (2), SE15.

CORRECT Edward VIII was king for only 327 days, so it’s hardly surprising that there are only 57 countrywide. London accounts for 10: Beckenham, Finchley, Mill Hill, Peckham, Southwark (2), NW4, SE6 (2), SE15.

WRONG Berthold Ludwig Wolpe was a Jewish German designer born in Offenbach, he emigrated to England in 1935 and became a naturalized British citizen in 1947. He resided in Lambeth until he died in 1989. He named his famous typeface after Albertus Magnus, a 13th-century German philosopher and theologian.

WRONG Berthold Ludwig Wolpe was a Jewish German designer born in Offenbach, he emigrated to England in 1935 and became a naturalized British citizen in 1947. He resided in Lambeth until he died in 1989. He named his famous typeface after Albertus Magnus, a 13th-century German philosopher and theologian.

CORRECT Berthold Ludwig Wolpe was a Jewish German designer born in Offenbach, he emigrated to England in 1935 and became a naturalized British citizen in 1947. He resided in Lambeth until he died in 1989. He named his famous typeface after Albertus Magnus, a 13th-century German philosopher and theologian.

CORRECT The early K3 telephone kiosk is made from pre-cast concrete sections. There were originally 12,000 K3 kiosks across the UK, but today only three remain — and this is the only one in London.

WRONG The early K3 telephone kiosk is made from pre-cast concrete sections. There were originally 12,000 K3 kiosks across the UK, but today only three remain — and this is the only one in London.

WRONG The early K3 telephone kiosk is made from pre-cast concrete sections. There were originally 12,000 K3 kiosks across the UK, but today only three remain — and this is the only one in London.

WRONG Two engineers Joseph Bazalgette, and the excellently-named Sir Goldsworthy Gurney were brought in to build a proper sewer system to contain London’s waste and to design a simple way to ventilate the gases produced by its rotting. Gurney’s stink pipes follow, more-or-less, the route of the main sewers, the gas they ventilate is a delightful cocktail that includes methane, hydrogen sulphide and ammonia — all flammable, all smelly.

CORRECT Two engineers Joseph Bazalgette, and the excellently-named Sir Goldsworthy Gurney were brought in to build a proper sewer system to contain London’s waste and to design a simple way to ventilate the gases produced by its rotting. Gurney’s stink pipes follow, more-or-less, the route of the main sewers, the gas they ventilate is a delightful cocktail that includes methane, hydrogen sulphide and ammonia — all flammable, all smelly.

WRONG Two engineers Joseph Bazalgette, and the excellently-named Sir Goldsworthy Gurney were brought in to build a proper sewer system to contain London’s waste and to design a simple way to ventilate the gases produced by its rotting. Gurney’s stink pipes follow, more-or-less, the route of the main sewers, the gas they ventilate is a delightful cocktail that includes methane, hydrogen sulphide and ammonia — all flammable, all smelly.

WRONG In 1864 London’s first traffic island was built in St James’s Street. It was funded by one Colonel Pierpoint who was afraid of being knocked down on his way to (and more likely from) his Pall Mall club. When it was finished, the good colonel dashed across the road to admire his creation, tripped and was bowled over by a cab.

CORRECT In 1864 London’s first traffic island was built in St James’s Street. It was funded by one Colonel Pierpoint who was afraid of being knocked down on his way to (and more likely from) his Pall Mall club. When it was finished, the good colonel dashed across the road to admire his creation, tripped and was bowled over by a cab.

WRONG In 1864 London’s first traffic island was built in St James’s Street. It was funded by one Colonel Pierpoint who was afraid of being knocked down on his way to (and more likely from) his Pall Mall club. When it was finished, the good colonel dashed across the road to admire his creation, tripped and was bowled over by a cab.