I would have craved a first class ride on the Met. That said, I think the Central London Railway WISELY omitted different classes in order to spread the line’s appeal to every class of people.

Apparently, digging a trench through an urban metropolis is just AS treacherous as boring a tunnel under one.

When I visited the ruins of Westminster Palace a notice advised that the first site of the Clink prison was below the palace. The other sites are also marked locally.

Can anyone who has lived in Trellick (or Balfron) elaborate on the FIRE ESCAPE system of "secret" tiny stairwells? There's one dividing each pair of "triplets", so there's 3 doors to them on each hallway, and then I've seen floor plans where the end units (farthest from the service tower) that are 1-up and 1-down have an escape door in one of their BR closets, that leads into the stairwell at that end of the building? Back to the 3 main/common escapes... are there ladders inside there? In the wake of the thoroughly UNforgivable Grenfell Disaster, this seems like an issue worth examining.

❤

My wife and I love that you love London

Good documentary about Baker Street Station, although you omitted to mention a certain thoroughfare at the far end of the Met, Circle and H&C line which connects the east and westbound trains known to local staff as P*ss Alley 🤭

I lived in Lewisham for a couple of years as a lad, never knew of the existence of this canal. I'd really only scratched the surface of what was all around me, before I left.

A shout out to the pirate radio massive 🤣 Seriously though, it's a blot on the landscape but I appreciate it's history.

I think we should consider all three to be equally the sources. That first spot was truly beautiful. Thanks for a lovely upload.

I hope he knows how to get off! Haha!

Thanks!

A superb info documentary ... so much in life is taken for granted without knowing why things are as they are. I now know a lot more about the Old Bailey than I did half an hour ago!! Well done.

Beautifully done. Thank you for illuminating one small corner of much larger events.

Hi Rob, I really enjoyed your presentation on Karl Hulten and Betty Jones. After 10 months of research, my wife and I have written a book about them, shedding new light on their lives and crimes, going in depth into their childhoods and revealing details that have never been published before. We uncovered over 2,000 pages of documentation on the case, including some of Betty’s letters written to friends and family, as well as photographs of her that can’t be found online, including one taken when she was 14, and one in the 1980s when she was in her 50s. There are a few gaps I can help you fill in, if you don’t mind - as you’ve covered this case, I thought you might be interested. Betty wasn’t born in Neath but Skewen, which is a small neighbouring village. The young woman Karl knocked off her bicycle was not a nurse but worked in a billeting office. She was 19-year-old Daphne Lambourne and she had just attended a dance at Reading Town Hall and was on her way home to Henley-on-Thames. Assault victim Violet Hodge was 18 at the time, not 19. In a remarkable coincidence, she was born on the same day as Betty (5 July 1926). Around 14 minutes in, you mentioned that Hulten and Jones spotted an elderly woman, but it was in fact a young woman. In the police files, Betty said they ‘saw a prostitute wearing a fur coat which seemed to attract 'Ricky’s' eye.’ ‘I’ll get the girl and get her coat’ 'Ricky' said. You mentioned that Karl parked the Ford V8 in Lurgan Avenue. The reason for this was that he was visiting his English girlfriend, 16-year-old Joyce Cook, who lived at 159 Fulham Palace Road, and the Cooks’ side door opened out onto Lurgan Avenue. Joyce knew nothing about Karl’s wife back in Boston, or about Betty. The matter of Betty being booed off stage during a striptease routine is an interesting one. There’s no proof of this except for one unsubstantiated newspaper report, although it’s true that she lost at least one dancing job due to being ‘generally unsatisfactory’. It’s possible she only did striptease once or twice but liked to tell people about it to shock them. At the trial in January 1945, there were no ‘ticket touts’ per se, which is one of the errors that has crept into the case’s retelling via the newspapers. Only 34 places were available on a first come first served basis as the public gallery in court number one had been closed due to bomb damage. Betty’s parents Arthur and Nellie didn’t have to queue, while members of the public had to line up outside for one of the 34 lucky tickets; one of whom was Betty’s former roommate. Attendants were offered £5 by well-off spectators to look the other way while they sneaked in, but this was at the appeal in February rather than the trial itself. You may also like to know that we tracked down Betty’s daughter after months of investigation, and she has kindly shared memories of her mother with us. Contrary to popular opinion, Betty did not die in the 1980s, and we will reveal more about her life after prison in the book. We were also able to share details with her daughter that she didn’t know about her mum’s childhood. The book is due for release at the end of 2025 or early 2026, and more information can be found here: prashganendran.com/the-cleft-chin-murder/ Thanks for reading!

A bit late to mention so long after this was posted - but - as I boy in the 60s in Gloucester Avenue, Primrose Hill Village, just around the corner from where I lived was Druce's depot and lorries from there would make their way the short distance to the shop in Baker Street.

Very Intresting thanks Rob

The only assosiation i have when hearing "Old Bailey" is a harsh, unfair and cruel british judicial system. Centuries of atrocities to humankind.

Great subject and video. Also great use of old images and footage, particular Alfred Hitchcocks film. His films done at the time pre-WWII are more less documentaries now (as with other films done then) as they show all these buildings and features with good cinematography, so they are of a high quality.

The most efficient system in the World...impossible to get lost.. I remember going on the subway in the 1950s. A distinctive smell. Always take a ride when I am back in Glasgow. A very interesting video which helps people understand how the system was built.

I like the look of all the buildings, too bad we can’t see inside the tiny one .

Just watched this over on the MarkFromTheStates Channel. This is a great video, packed with lots of historical information - and humour - about this iconic address. I thoroughly enjoyed it so thank you for taking the time to create it and for doing such a thorough job. I subscribed to your Channel today.

My father was the foreman at butlers grinders spice mill

There is a Georgian building in Dublin, I saw it a few years ago, they have a sculpture as part of the masonry, mice. I think they're round a table if I remember correctly.

Thanks Rob. We recently did the guided tour you mentioned. It was fascinating to say the least and would highly recommend it.

Really never thought the court was at one time open to the air

If the prevailing wind was westerly, as you say, how did the smoke get to Oxford?

I LOVE WATCHING THINGS LIKE THIS. BECAUSE WE NEVER LEARNED THINGS LIKE THIS IN SCHOOL.. I'M A HISTORY NUT. I LOVE HISTORY FROM ENGLAND AND EUROPE .. THANK YOU VERRY MUCH..❤

Must have missed this one. Thanks Rob. Excellent as always

It's an area, not just a street.

Another great video!

Bravo. Followed

A really interesting video. Always wondered. Now I know. Great job thank you 👍

A very informative film about a subject I knew nothing about. Great job sir 👍

and we know #84 is a tourist bit o crap - because "high tea" on the window: you might as well have a ronald mcdonald figure out front and star wars on the windows. The Americanization of "high tea" is possibly the worst thing we've ever done. (high tea, for my fellow yanks, is a heavy working class dinner of cheese laden and greasy nosh; not "high class" which is just laughable. The words you’re struggling for are: afternoon tea, or cream tea. [and even worse, "high tea", is a low tea as it is served on low tables - grasp your pearls there] Like people of elevated status refer to their things as “high”) I'd write more, but I’m off to have my high class walk followed by my high bath and high nappy time. tooodal pips y'all. (he said, ashamed intermittenly shaking his head and bashing it on the desk)

My Grandpa was a judge in Scotland for many years but also practiced English and American law. He would have loved this video as I have. I still have many stories about the High Court in Edinburgh from him. Thank you for this

Absolutely fascinating, thank you for sharing.

Excellent, an education

Your research is phenomenal, thank you so much for fascinating videos!

The Chamber of Horrors at Madame Tussauds did close from 2016 to 2022 to be reopened as a Sherlock Holmes exhibit. However, it is now well and truly open again. Some parts moved to become part of The London Dungeon owned by the same company.

Hi Rob, im late to the party on this one, someone else may have already commented, but I remember that in the mid eighties there was a song by Princess entitled "say im your number one" which featured her riding around various locations on the open top deck of a london double decker. Thanks for the upload.

Thanks Rob. A free cuppa from the finest of tea merchants? Wonderful 😊☕️

Great to see the Anchor Tap. My grandfather managed the pub during the war.

Shadwell...What a dump.

MANY Thanks,Rob!!... :)

I'd always assumed the building was far older, more in line with St Paul's, but I suppose those stone interiors do make it rather obvious!

Having worked in the ccc,, enjoyed your video it would be good to see one made on the royal courts of justice (RCJ) in the strand

A very rich, interesting and varied history for the OB landmark(s). A most interesting video, thanks.

As an Australian exploring my family history....Old Bailey records have been invaluable. Well....not for my family but my husbands. He has 10convicts but I have many Methodist/Wesleyan ministers and preachers. Thanks

In a story about the importance of tea during WW2 a man was quoted saying that sheltering in tube stations wasn't much fun, but when the air raid was over and the tea ladies came it was all right and they felt invigorated.