Hi! I’m Marina. I am from Barcelona and work as a Video Editor at Ground Control.
The first week after I arrived in London I got stuck in a public toilet, met a WWII survivor woman that still worked at her library, and met one of the butlers of King Charles. In that thrilling week in the best city in the world I learned 4 facts of London that I didn’t know and that I’d like to share. I’ll let you decide where I hear each one. They are all true – I think.
1. Public Toilets
photo:Public Domain
During the Victorian era London’s streets were interesting, dark, smelly, less than pleasant. You would be walking around, wanting to go to the toilet and surprise, no public toilets. No free public WC at Cannon Street Station no fancy lavender smell hotels restrooms you can sneak in (not me), nothing. But then, there was the so-called Night Soil man – he would wear a cape and carry a bucket. He will roam the streets at night collecting human waste to cart it away. I did hear, some would use the bucket right there, while the Night Soil Man would cover them with the cape. I know it sounds funny but It was revolutionary and it definitely led to a designated public facility. I am sure it was him who pitched it, and for that we all Londoners need to be grateful to him.
2. Swans
Not far from those streets we would find Buckingham Palace, that leads straight to my next one. Although we have to travel at least seven centuries before. Did you know that the Crown OWNS all of the unmarked Swans on the Thames? There even is a ceremony called ‘Swan Upping’ where they count them and tag them!
Photo by Unsplash Joydeep Pal
3. The Salmon Act 1986
Ah, the third one. Please go google The Salmon Act 1986. If you are still here let me tell you that according to that it is technically illegal to “handle salmon in suspicious circumstances”. On those very needed 70 paragraphs you will find that what is illegal is to be in possession of illegally fished salmon, no matter if it has been ‘received, retained, removed, or disposed of.’ Love that one.
Photo by BBC News
You can see other interesting law in the UK here!
4. 23–24 Leinster Gardens in Paddington
And now, head to 23–24 Leinster Gardens in Paddington. Knock on the door. Keep doing that. Nothing? Well, they are just facades! These two houses don’t exist. They were demolished around 1860 to build a tunnel connecting Paddington station with Bayswater. They then built those facades to unify the neighbouring and hide the tunnel.
Photo by Look up London
Photo by Look up London