On 22 February 1864, the last mass execution of condemned men outside Newgate jail took place. Found guilty of the murder of the captain of the ship Flowery Land Messrs. Blanco, Leone, Duranno, Lopez and Watts were hanged. The people of London would have to find their entertainment elsewhere in future and not before time, with the event almost as dangerous for spectators as the condemned – see below.

On 22 February 1907 London’s first taxi cabs with meters began operating in the capital to ensure overcharging did not occur

On 22 February 1807 40,000 watched Owen Haggerty and John Holloway be hanged outside Newgate in a panic more than 30 were trampled to death

The OXO tower restaurant has 3 windows advertising the iconic cube. Put up to avoid the ban in 1930 of advertising on the side of buildings

When one drinks a glass of London tapwater it has typically already passed through nine other people, just where it goes after you is a matter for speculation

On 22 February 1913 Suffragette Ella Stevenson arrested by Detectives Pride and Cock for placing dangerous substances in a letterbox

Dr Samuel Johnson once owned 17 properties in London, only one of which survives – Dr Johnson’s Memorial House in Gough Square

The world’s first plate-glass shop window was installed in 1801 by men’s outfitter Francis Place at 16 Charing Cross Road

Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum has possibly the largest collection of tennis-related artefacts in the world, including ‘The Whites of Wimbledon’ the changing styles of Wimbledon outfits and tennis fashion

The Corporation of Coachmen – London’s black cabs predecessor first secured a charter from Cromwell to ply for hire within London in 1639

Twining Teas opened 1707 on the Strand sold tea to Queen Anne and is the oldest business in Britain operating from their original premises

London’s oldest petrol station was the Village Green, Bloomsbury which opened in 1926, built for The Duke of Bedford on his London Estate

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.