One Word Sunday
Tag: Underground
The Dame,the Financier and the station that never was
I already knew of one of the protagonists of this story, but not the other and only recently learnt how their opposing views created an anomaly on the London Underground system. Let me start by introducing them. Dame Henrietta Octavia Weston Barnett, was an English social reformer, educationist, and author. She and her husband, Samuel Augustus Barnett… Continue reading The Dame,the Financier and the station that never was
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One Word Sunday
……and then two come along at once
“Where was the first underground railway built?” Anoraks and general know it all’s will sneer slightly at the simplicity of the question, but for you dear reader who does have a life, the answer is the Metropolitan Railway, officially opened on the 9th January 1863. The line ran from Paddington to Farringdon. A slightly more… Continue reading ……and then two come along at once
Alight at Holborn for the British Museum
“Excuse me“, said the American lady, her I suppose husband hanging back a little sheepishly, “Can you direct me to the British Museum?” Well I could do better than that I was going to walk past it, so I accompanied them on the short five minute stroll. On the way they told me that they… Continue reading Alight at Holborn for the British Museum
The Countess of Auschwitz
Gloucester Road underground station is a rather perplexing combination of buildings. As you turn into Gloucester Road from Courtfield Road you are presented with the Ox blood tiled facade of what was once the deep line station and adjoining it is the original Victorian station building. The original station was opened in 1868 by the Metropolitan… Continue reading The Countess of Auschwitz
The Earl, his monkey and the policeman
Michael William Coplestone Dillon Onslow, better known to you all as the 7th Earl of Onslow. At first I was going to say, “No, I’d never heard of him either“, but as my research progressed a small bell started to tinkle in the recesses. Having to look him up I remembered that I’d heard his… Continue reading The Earl, his monkey and the policeman
Necessity is the mother of inVENTion
I love to find things that are not quite what they appear to be. Given that there is a rather large subterranean London, the need to allow fresh air in, or expel foul out is rather important. The following is a list of my favourite (oh you sad man) ventilation systems. The cast iron equestrian… Continue reading Necessity is the mother of inVENTion
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One Word Sunday
Wait
One Word Sunday
A LONDON MISCELLANY 