As you may have read in my last few posts I’ve been looking at all things subterranean, the London Underground, the sewers and lost rivers of the capital. I came across a rather interesting piece of folklore when researching a post called Where there’s muck there’s brass dealing with the profession of Toshing which I… Continue reading Queen Rat
Tag: History
Where there’s muck there’s brass
Let me introduce you to group of men. Lanky Bill, Long Tom, One-eyed George, Short-armed Jack, Titch and Round Bob. A finer bunch of men you could not wish to meet, but if you were to be introduced to them you’d literally get wind of them before clapping eyes on them, as these men were… Continue reading Where there’s muck there’s brass
The Lizzy Line
I had planned to take my first trip on the Elizabeth line on Tuesday 24th May on the day it opened, however other plans got in the way and I had to settle for the following day. I have to say that it was with quite a sense of anticipation that I alighted from my… Continue reading The Lizzy Line
Gimme Shelter
Not quite subterranean as in below the earth, but none the less below street level is the story of the tunnels that once lay beneath the area today known as Adelphi which sits in between Charing Cross station and the Savoy Hotel. The northern fringes of the park area in the photograph were prior to… Continue reading Gimme Shelter
This Little Piggy
I’m sure most of you know the children’s rhyme; This little piggy went to market,This little piggy stayed at home,This little piggy had roast beef,This little piggy had none.And this little piggy went…“Wee wee wee” all the way home… Well what if home wasn’t a quaint old pigsty on a lovely farm, but the entrance… Continue reading This Little Piggy
Going Underground
I’ve recently finished reading an excellent book called London Under, written by historian and London history Guru, Peter Ackroyd. It’s a fascinating look at life below the City’s streets. Some facts I knew and some were a complete surprise. I’ve been fascinated by what’s below our streets from an early age, my interest being piqued… Continue reading Going Underground
Pier(s)
One Word Sunday
What a Shambles
Shambles is a term for an open air slaughterhouse and meat market. Streets of that name were so called from having been the sites on which butchers killed and dressed animals for consumption. As far as I can ascertain there are only about ten streets or areas left in the UK that are known as “The Shambles”. Manchester has one as do Sevenoaks,… Continue reading What a Shambles
Ship Ahoy! in Shaftesbury Avenue?
“….that you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone” I believe is a lyric by Joni Mitchell and very succinct when applied to the rather tatty looking shop premises in the picture. Shaftesbury Avenue, which is where this shop is located slices diagonally through the fringes of Covent Garden, Soho and Chinatown to end… Continue reading Ship Ahoy! in Shaftesbury Avenue?
Philpot Lane (No Mice)
A few posts ago I took a look at a quirky piece of art that adorns the wall of a building on Philpot Lane and so as I was there so to speak, I thought I’d take a look at the lane itself. In the late fourteen hundreds the lane was known as St Andrew… Continue reading Philpot Lane (No Mice)
A LONDON MISCELLANY 