When the first escalator was installed on the London Underground, to reassure people that it was safe, a man with a wooden leg called 'Bumper' Harris was hired to travel up and down it continuously for a week.
Showing posts with label London. Show all posts
Showing posts with label London. Show all posts
Saturday, 18 February 2017
London Undergorund
London Underground (or London Tube) is certainly one of the British capital's landmarks. The first underground electric railway, the City and South London, which ran from near the Bank of England under the Thames to the South Bank, opened in 1890.It was the first line to be called 'the Tube'. Tube carriages originally had buttoned upholstery and no windows and were nicknamed 'padded cells'.
When the first escalator was installed on the London Underground, to reassure people that it was safe, a man with a wooden leg called 'Bumper' Harris was hired to travel up and down it continuously for a week.
When the first escalator was installed on the London Underground, to reassure people that it was safe, a man with a wooden leg called 'Bumper' Harris was hired to travel up and down it continuously for a week.
Monday, 27 July 2015
London's villages
Before the 19th century and the expansion of the railways London was contained within the City, Westminster and Southwark. The communities that were outside these areas were villages. As transport extended, the villages became a part of the conurbation. Here are a few of the villages that are still discernible within the greater conurbation.
Hampstead
When you arrive at Hampstead on the underground you are 64 metres below the ground level in the deepest station in London, and on reaching the surface you know you are in a different atmosphere.
For many years, Hampstead has been a haven for arts of all descriptions. John Constable who did many paintings of the heath is buried in the churchyard of St. John's, as is John Harrison, the self-taught clockmaker who is attributed with defining 'Longitude' by means of his chronometer.
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| Hampstead map by artist Jonathan Addis |
When you arrive at Hampstead on the underground you are 64 metres below the ground level in the deepest station in London, and on reaching the surface you know you are in a different atmosphere.
For many years, Hampstead has been a haven for arts of all descriptions. John Constable who did many paintings of the heath is buried in the churchyard of St. John's, as is John Harrison, the self-taught clockmaker who is attributed with defining 'Longitude' by means of his chronometer.
Monday, 8 June 2015
Pearly Kings and Queens of London
Pearly Kings and Queens are one of the most intriguing, unique and beautiful attractions of London. Each London Borough has a its King and Queen, as do the City of London and
the City of Westminster. It is a colourful London tradition and one
that has been kept alive by a few dedicated people, who work hard on the promotion of this tradition. Today there are 30 Pearly families that are active in collecting money and fund raising different charities.
The story about Pearly Kings and Queens started in the Victorian London among street traders or 'The Costermongers', as they were called. They were selling their goods marching the streets of London, selling from baskets, later from barrows, and, finally, from static market stalls. It was usually a family business and went from the generation to generation.
The story about Pearly Kings and Queens started in the Victorian London among street traders or 'The Costermongers', as they were called. They were selling their goods marching the streets of London, selling from baskets, later from barrows, and, finally, from static market stalls. It was usually a family business and went from the generation to generation.
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