When I started driving, free air was available at our local garage, and if a young lady needed help, the attendant would happily leave his pay booth. Then later ‘free air’ cost 50p or via a token purchased from the garage. Today my local petrol station, with its 8 electric charging points and a gadget to boost your mobile, now only accepts contactless credit card payments for free air. That’s progress.
Johnson’s London Dictionary: Millennium Dome
MILLENNIUM DOME (n.) Much derided struckture designed by politicans, saved by eletronik telephony.
Dr. Johnson’s London Dictionary for publick consumption in the twenty-first century avail yourself on Twitter @JohnsonsLondon
May’s monthly musings
🚓 What Cab News
Tom Hutley has pointed out incorrect signage on Gracechurch Street and Bishopsgate. During the hours of 7 am-7 pm (Mon-Fri) only buses and cycles are allowed to use this stretch of road, but he has found not one, but two incorrect signs! Stating that the restricted hours are 7 pm – 7 am! Therefore taxis can use it in the day, but not at night?
🎧 What I’m Listening
Your London Legacy podcast was made nearly three years ago when Mark Monroe is interviewed about acting, being a cabbie and his YouTube channel Secret London.
📖 What I’m Reading
As I’ve been recently writing about London A to Z by John Metcalf. The book has a host of long-forgotten aspects of London. In 1953 Moyses Stevens offered an all-night flower-delivery service, so much for today’s next-day delivery.
📺 What I’m watching
This month blue tits are feeding their young in our bird box, unfortunately, due either to weather conditions or that the parents were inexperienced, three fledglings didn’t make it. Better luck next year..
❓ What else
Since July 2009 I’ve been posting daily London trivia on Twitter @CabbieBlog. Remembering to upload isn’t always easy, so when various resources appeared on the web which enabled 10 tweets to be scheduled it was to be welcomed. Now since Elon Musk has set Twitter’s API monthly access price at up to $210,000 and discontinued free access to APIs by third parties and developer plugins I’m back to where I was nearly a decade and a half ago. Thanks, Elon.
London in Quotations: Arthur Conan Doyle
. . . the lowest and vilest alleys of London do not present a more dreadful record of sin than does the smiling and beautiful country-side.
Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930), The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: The Copper Beeches
London Trivia: Strong Man of Islington
On 28 May 1741, to celebrate the taking of Portobello by Admiral Vernon, Thomas Topham ‘the Strong Man of Islington’ performed at the Apple Tree Inn, formerly opposite Coldbath Fields prison, in the presence of the admiral and numerous spectators. Here, standing on a wooden stage, he raised several inches from the ground three hogsheads of water weighing 1,336 pounds, using for the purpose a strong rope and tackle passing over his shoulders.
On 28 May 1759 Britain’s youngest Prime Minister Pitt the Younger was born. He grew up to be so thin that he was known as the Bottomless Pitt
Serial billiard ball thief Harry Jackson received seven years jail for two convictions – how times have changed
The house numbering in Downing Street used to be different. Number 10 was originally No 5 and did not acquire its present number until 1779
Henry Campbell-Bannerman has been the only British Prime Minister to die at 10 Downing Street. He died there in April 1908
While Cromwell never readmitted Jews a London colony of Sephardic Jews was identified in 1656 and allowed to remain – first time since 1290
In Elizabethan theatre different coloured flags were used to advertise the play’s theme – black flag tragedy, white comedy and red history
Until 1983 women could not be served at the bar in Fleet Street’s El Vino – only when seated at a table served, presumably by a subservient waiter
On 28 May 1742 the Bagnio the first indoor swimming pool opened Lemon Street, Goodman’s Fields, for a guinea gentlemen only could use the 43ft pool
The tallest escalator on the Underground is at the Angel with a length of 197ft (making it the world’s longest) and a vertical rise of 90ft
London Scientist Christopher Merret invented sparkling wine in 1662, Champagne didn’t come on the scene until 1697
17th century diarist John Evelyn proposed moving smoky industries out of London and then encircling with ‘sweet-smelling plants and hedges’
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.
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