Explain the Name: Soho

[@geoffreypiltz271]

"If you don't like the history, well, there'll be new history along soon enough" well said.

[@RLV16]

In 1660 the area now known as SOHO London was entirely open countryside. The King gave the 1st Duke of Southampton some of his stag hunting ground in reward for his services. In the early 1660s Thomas Wriothesley the 4th Duke of Southampton, had this area developed for him, and Southampton House was built. This low but impressive building influenced by Inigo Jones, was finally pulled down in 1802. It was replaced by an even larger grand house, which bankrupted the owner, so forcing him to sell some land for development. It was around the late 1660s, that this newly developing area south west of Southampton House was called SOHO. So SOHO comes from Southampton House.

[@SkepticalSteve01]

In 1981 I spent a year in a walk-up third floor flat in Soho, and worked for Marshall Cavendish on their Photo magazine. Sunday mornings were particularly delightful - the actual locals would come out and get about their business, socialise and such, before being swamped at midday by hordes of tourists in puffer jackets desperately searching for porno mags. I’d pack up my washing in a bag, pick up the Observer and the Sunday Times, have a pain au raisin and a coffee at the original Patisserie Valerie, then head over to a laundrette near Seven Dials. Halcyon days!

[@phaasch]

Ah, Patisserie Valerie! That's a name from the past, alright. You sum up the spirit of 80s Soho perfectly. A vibrant place where you could just do your own thing, and no one turned a hair

[@martyn8116]

Lovely, Steve. I was disappointed there wasn't another couple of paragraphs!

[@annother3350]

That period was peak SoHo in my opinion. Up until the mid 90s when they started making too many changes.

[@p.1019]

Lucky man!

[@tobbs5410]

If you're ever in Soho Square and happen to spot a little green, Georgian style building amongst all of the others, you might be interested to know that this is the former animation studio of the late Richard Williams, who animated for Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Pink Panther movies, Charge of the Light Brigade and The Thief and the Cobbler. Animation giants such as Art Babbitt, Ken Harris and Emery Hawkins have also worked there.

[@daisymoore5976]

I work super close and will look for this

[@PHSPictures]

This is true. I know it very well.

[@TheUluxian]

@@JP_TaVeryMuch It's probably just me, but seeing "Who f'd R. Rabbit" didn't translate into "Who Framed Roger Rabbit." the first time 'round.... Especially considering the Red Light connotations related to Soho...

[@bugsby4663]

Like Carnaby St and Covent Garden, what was once an exciting community had its heart ripped out by developers and turned into a souless tourist trap.

[@annother3350]

and greenwich

[@trueaussie9230]

And so it goes. People discover a place that they love for its ambience. In come the 'developers', looking to cash in, and rip out / drive out the heart and soul, turning it into just another sterile 'shopping centre' / 'tourist trap'.

[@RogersRamblings]

There is also a Soho in Birmingham, the location of Messrs Bolton and Watt's manufactory. As every schoolboy of yore knows James Watt improved the efficiency of steam engines and his development of converting the linear motion of a piston into the rotative motion of gears and wheels led to the creation of powered vehicles including Trevithick's road and rail locomotives. I understand that Soho Birmingham is a contraction of South House. Apart from a name in common, railways and industrial history there is no connection between the two places but I thought it might be of interest.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

“Entertainment District, with ‘Entertainment’ being a very broad term.” - Jago has thrown the gauntlet.

[@hairyairey]

Or thrown it down!

[@iankemp1131]

Launching the gauntlet? Surely a classic mixed metaphor? But I suppose one could get a floating glove, though normally by an unfortunate accident.

[@waynemarvin5661]

One doesn't launch gauntlets. One throws them down. Your ignorance, Pokhraj, gives away your age.

[@paulsengupta971]

@@iankemp1131 That's closing the stable door after the horse has gathered no moss.

[@trueaussie9230]

​@@waynemarvin5661 Unfortunately ignorance knows no age barriers.

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

New Yorker here! Yes, SoHo in NYC is short for SOuth of HOuston Street, very different from the origin of the London one. And Houston Street itself is unique as it's not the pronunciation of the famous Houston in Texas, Hyoo-stun. But rather, HOW-stun. WHY? Well, because these two things were named after two different people! Houston in Texas was named after Sam Houston, who was the seventh governor of Texas from December 1859 to March 1861. While Houston Street in Manhattan was named after William Houstoun, who was delegate to the Continental Congress for the Province of Georgia and later the State of Georgia to the United States Constitutional Convention in 1787. However, being a Revolutionary War patriot wasn't what got the street named after him (although NYC WAS the first capital of the US so it makes sense), but rather who he married. He married Mary Bayard, a member of a prominent family that traces its city roots to the Stuyvesants. They owned a farm in what's now SoHo. Mary Bayard's father, in need of money, decided to carve up the western portion of the farm into a grid. Originally the north-south streets were numbered, before they were named for generals. Although not a general, Mary wanted to name one after William.

[@ayindestevens6152]

I was going to answer Jago’s question but you beat me to it Avery!

[@CalvinsWorldNews]

This was the thing I learned today then I always just assumed it was another case of name copying, like how Philadelphia has a Kensington and NY has a Chelsea. There's probably a good video to be made about shared area names between London and the eastern seaboard cities. (Or if Jago is reading this then you should do a video on the Ye Olde Mitre pub and its Cambridgeshire postcode inside London)

[@andalalvar7183]

I maintain this is a backronymn. You have Chelsea, Greenwich etc but for some reason Soho is named after something different.

[@davidrenton]

@@CalvinsWorldNews strange I was just watching videos on Philadelphia , Kensington, a very different area to London's' Kensington

[@dougchinn2820]

I still remember being chastised by an indignant bus driver many many years ago when asking if he went to "Hyoo-stun" Street. Never took the bus again. A definite tourist mistake. Take the subway now, rats don't talk back. Love NYC!

[@J_PhD]

Soho, if I remember well my latest visit from Belgium, is also the natural habitat of the Drunken Essex Girl. A nocturnal mammal, they roam in groups (called a Bacardi) of up to a dozen individuals in the small hours and can be very territorial and agressive to passers-by who don't know any better and actually acknowledge their presence.

[@Daneki]

"A bacardi of drunken essex girls" is going into my everyday vocabulary

[@tonys1636]

@@Daneki Would have thought would have been a 'Smirnoff'.

[@paulhaynes8045]

And, rather bizarrely, they all seem to be on my train home. And I don't live in Essex!

[@Daneki]

@@tonys1636 take it up with op

[@lawrencelewis2592]

there is the sub-tribe of Proseccos.

[@Froobyone]

My last employer's main office is situated in Golden Square, Soho. As a native of Kingston Upon Hull, my first day at work, some three and a half years ago now, was gilded by the fact I was heading for Soho. It added a new frisson of excitement to six hours in a office. On a glorious August day I took some time during my lunch break to explore a little. Headed for Carnaby Street and drank in some of its history. Thoughts of the swinging sixties, when London was at the epicentre of culture and coolness. I kept having to pinch myself that this was were I was spending my lunch hour. It certainly beat the edge of city industrial estate I'd spent the previous five years enduring. Unfortunately, being, as I was based in Yorkshire, I would work remotely for the rest of my tenure there. That would be my only visit, but it's one I'm thankful to be reminded of. Thank you.

[@phaasch]

This was my ground in the 80s, working in the theatres up and around Shaftesbury Avenue. There was still a real community feeling there, beyond the clip joints. I loved the history of the place, the "spielers" and nightclub empire of Kate Merrick in the 30s, where jazz musicians and hostesses rubbed shoulders with the more raffish aristocracy, and some of that atmosphere still remained. We never thought it would be "tamed" and brought to heel in the mainstream of London, but we sadly underestimated the power of the developers. I'm just glad I knew it when it was still brash, grubby and real, and full of genuine Londoners.

[@ravenfeeder1892]

There used to be a fantastic SF bookshop in Soho called Dark They Were and Golden Eyed. You had to go past several doorways advertising personal services to get there, so I'm not surprised it didn't last after Forbidden Planet opened in a nearby but more pleasant location.

[@roderickmain9697]

You are so right. Brilliant place. Probably bought over 35 paperbacks in two separate visits,

[@Jemini4228]

I love Forbidden Planet. I discovered it in my mid teens and my pop culture nerd heart was very happy to be in such a big place, crammed full of memorabilia, comics and books. There is also a lovely crystal shop called simply the Astrology Shop.

[@Tishanfas]

@@Jemini4228 I loved the old Forbidden Planet, but the one on Shaftesbury Ave doesn't seem to have the same atmosphere.

[@TheUluxian]

I made FP a stop on my itinerary on my last London visit, and was kind of disappointed, actually. Went looking for Dr. Who and Blake's 7 merch, and came away empty handed...There was just nothing really special there that you couldn't find online elsewhere..

[@ravenfeeder1892]

@@TheUluxian Online has completely changed the landscape for SF and adjacent merch. It used to be that these few speciality stores were the only outlet for these things and the only place you could get US imports.

[@mcarp555]

Soho is one of the more magical parts of London, in my opinion. It was the true heart of 'Swinging London' in the Sixties. If you're taking suggestions for future videos, what about Knightsbridge? Was there a bridge there only for knights?

[@lordsleepyhead]

Maybe the bridge was made of knights?

[@telhudson863]

There was a ferry that operated in the day. So when the ferry shut, late travellers were forced to use a rickety dangerous bridge - the nite bridge or nict bridge. Then in the 18th century, grammarians 'corrected' the spelling and so we got Knight or rather Knight's Bridge.

[@TheSmart-CasualGamer]

​@@JP_TaVeryMuch There was almost undoubtedly at least one knight.

[@ezri6585]

I assume you've seen the film last night in soho

[@roderickmain9697]

Once a King always a King but once a Knight is enough - Anon

[@peabody1976]

SoHo in NY is "South of Houston" (HOW-stun). 😃 And yes, different from the city in Texas pronounced "HYOO-stun". Kinda like how the Thames in London is "temz" and the one in Connecticut is "thaymez". Soho has been another place I've been (twice, both times to the King's Arms pub 🏳‍🌈and once to the Wagamama nearby).

[@thehaprust6312]

Occasionally American English can revenge itself upon the bizarre pronunciations of British place names.

[@lohphat]

@@thehaprust6312 e.g. Frome = pronounced "Portsmouth" #mapmen

[@paulhaynes8045]

I wish Americans would just accept the fact that they can't pronounce things properly and get over it!

[@marcelwiszowaty1751]

I was going to explain the pronunciation of NYC's SoHo too, so thanks for mentioning it. I also visited the King's Arms often in days gone by but thesedays I'm not a drinker and coffee shops are more appealing. 😎

[@TheSmart-CasualGamer]

Wait, the Connecticut one is pronounced phonetically? Damn, never knew that!

[@richcolour]

3:15 wow, there's something I've not seen in a very long time. Was working in St Anne's Court when this mural was painted in the late 80's. Thanks for the time travel!

[@hyperdistortion2]

I’m with you on the ‘renaming to hide history’, for sure. Linking to your Houston reference, the Hell’s Kitchen area of New York City is now being referred to by real-estate developers as ‘Midtown West’ - Daredevil would disapprove.

[@andyjay729]

My old phone's weather app still referred to Hell's Kitchen though.

[@hyperdistortion2]

@@andyjay729 My map apps both use Hell’s Kitchen, too; I think it really is just a real-estate thing, and everyone else uses the original name.

[@hb1338]

In the UK, the nuclear power plant at Windscale was renamed to Sellafield. In that case, I think it merely created new bad connotations.

[@andyjay729]

@@hb1338 The Japanese are also pretty image-conscious; I wonder if they're planning to rename the still-working portion of the Fukushima power plant.

[@lorddiegocosta3307]

Ive found that Manhattan as a whole is being watered down, perhaps to cater to more out oft owners moving in. The amount of soulless developments taking place there since moving away is almost heartbreaking

[@benjones1917]

"If you don't like the history, there'll be new history along soon enough" - I like that

[@michaeljames4904]

Chinatown’s a relatively recent addition to the neighbourhood. Perhaps unsurprisingly located first in Limehouse and its dockland environs, a post-War wholesale move up west followed Goering and pals basically flattening the area.

[@sianwarwick633]

ohhhh, is that why ?

[@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un]

Specifically, Henry VIII bought the land for a royal park for the Palace of Whitehall. The Palace of Whitehall (also spelt White Hall) at Westminster was the main residence of the English monarchs from 1530 until 1698, when most of its structures, except notably Inigo Jones's Banqueting House of 1622, were destroyed by fire. Henry VIII moved the royal residence to White Hall after the old royal apartments at the nearby Palace of Westminster were themselves ironically destroyed by fire. Although the Whitehall palace has not survived, the area where it was located is still called Whitehall and has remained a center of government. Henry didn't start the fire...it was always burning since the world's been turning!

[@PMA65537]

Not all Henry did if the Internet has it right kzbin.info/www/bejne/bqC4apx-hbRnpJo

[@Rog5446]

I remember Carnaby Street when you could park a car at any time of day as there was plenty of space, no yellow lines and no parking meters. On my first visit there, there were three clothes shops and two shoe shops and the famous (in the 60s) Roaring Twenties Club.

[@AndrewKerr2406]

Often wondered about the name Pimlico, not wondered enough to Google it, it would be so much better coming from Jago 😉

[@pierremartini2229]

"You are the horn to my hunt" just after talking about Soho. Dear oh dear. Great video as always.

[@AFCManUk]

While we're on the subject of London's former history, I'm sure you knew that the now affluent areas of Kensington and Notting Hill were formerly a notorious Victorian slum known as the 'Potteries and Piggeries'. . .

[@dambrooks7578]

I used to enjoy nights out in Soho as I was a member of the The Society Club, which was actually a literary meeting space and I was inclined to even perform some of my "humorous" rhymes publicly whilst enjoying the cocktails that were available and I especially enjoyed that instead of exact measurements Society Club just made drinks at bartender discretion measurements 😊😵‍💫😂 and despite originally opening in the early 20th century (1924 I think, not that I was there at the time...) it has unfortunately been forced to close forever because of the ground rent price has closed another great London venue, a bit like the Astoria which used to back onto Soho Square; which now makes me feel incredibly old 🧓🏻

[@Phuc_Yhou]

Using the @ shows you can still enjoy the humour in literacy 😉

[@harrycurtis9838]

On there not being an inn/house called Soho, there's some interesting stuff in the Survey of London volumes on the parish of St Anne Soho (available on the British History Online website). The theory put forward there is that Soho originally referred to a house or group of houses at the corner of Wardour Street and Bourchier Street (formerly known as Milk Alley) in the 1630s, and then started to be used to refer to tenements that were built along Wardour Street as far north as Oxford Street in the 1650s, eventually attaching itself to the parish of St Anne (basically all of Soho east of Wardour Street, the church is just south of the supposed location of the original houses) and then to the whole area we know as Soho today. The stretch of Wardour Street where the original house/houses stood is marked as Old Soho on some old maps, including Rocque's one from 1746.

[@chrissaltmarsh6777]

As a youngster, I got the Central line from Loughton to Tottenham Court Road, in the days of Smoking On The Tube (a long time to stop breathing) to get to Greek Street, and a basement club called Les Cousins, where I heard people like Long John Baldry, Alex Korner. Soho was wonderful, got really tawdry for a bit, and has got cleaned up somewhat. There's an excellant joke about the statues in Soho Square. But it is a bit rude.

[@AtheistOrphan]

As a young man I was approached by a lady of negotiable virtue in Greek Street.

[@chrissaltmarsh6777]

@@AtheistOrphan So was I. But although male, and early teens, I had some sense amd stayed with the blues. I was upset seeing Soho, years later, when the sex exploitation places moved in. It is better now, but somewhat cleansed. Back then it was a vibrant mish-mash with a lot of faults.

[@jtsholtod.79]

My biggest takeaway from this is we need to find a way to get Jago to New York City.

[@ZonkerRoberts]

Oh, I think I recognized every shot in this video! I love Soho. It's probably my favorite area in London for photography. Especially at night and especially in the rain. (And before anyone asks, no, I've never met a werewolf looking for a Chinese restaurant called Lee Ho Fooks.)

[@JagoHazzard]

I did. I was worried at first, but then he explained that he intended to get a big dish of beef chow mein.

[@TheUluxian]

@@JagoHazzard But was his hair ACTUALLY perfect? Or was it just kind of "nice"?

[@allenwilliams1306]

I haven't lived in London for many years, but my recollection is that prostitutes could be easily obtained in Soho, Shepherds Market, and King's Cross. Schoolgirls in Sheffield used to get a return to St Pancras, turn some tricks, and return home much richer. These tickets were nicknamed “Have it Away Day” returns.

[@thomasburke2683]

No doubt those schoolgirls have now passed their "use by" date. Otherwise it might be worth an awayday to Sheffield. Steel city must have its softer side.

[@doctordeath2332]

I was working in the area a few years ago. Totally gentrified and corporatised now. My company ran an upmarket fitness club and gym in Kingly Street. We were required under Westminster legislation to get a £6,000 Licence for Sex Services.... because we had a professional physiotherapist on the premises who dealt with sports injuries. We used to ramble round the streets at lunchtime, and as far as we could see, in the whole of Soho, there was one just doorway, next to a convenience store, that had a sign for "french lessons upstairs" and a red lightbulb over the door that was switched off when a client went upstairs. We assumed it was operated by English Heritage.

[@hb1338]

Way back when (1982 I think), I remember arriving at Holy Cross church in Cromer Street (near to Kings Cross station) for a choral rehearsal, only to discover that the church was occupied by local working girls protesting against police brutality. They allowed us to fulfil our booking and sat quietly while we sang Carissimi, Handel and Bach. Afterwards we invited them to join us at the pub, but they declined as they were worried that we would get in trouble with the police if seen in their company. Strange times.

[@vomgrady]

The reason there are so many pubs around Soho called the Blue Post is apparently because a the hunting grounds delineation were marked out by blue posts.

[@jennyd255]

When I was growing up in London in the 60s Soho was a place which had many fantastic restaurants, often featuring cuisines that hadn't yet quite gone mainstream. Then in the 70s and 80s I recall many a happy evening being musically whiled away in Ronnie Scott's. Oddly the legendary sex shops, that were supposed to be its mainstay often seemed to be more congregated near Leicester Square, but perhaps they were there and I just never noticed them because they weren't selling anything I wanted. Anyway great video as always.

[@phaasch]

I got chucked out of Ronnie's a couple of times, even though I was a member. The trouble was, there was no room for dancing, and sometimes it was easy for us to get a bit carried away, but the kitchen doorway was no place for Lindy Hopping!

[@Slycockney]

I worked in Soho for many years, something always going on, not always good. Strangest event from a personal aspect was after working overtime at my job, myself and a colleague went for a Chinese meal. When we had finished, asked for the bill only to be told it had already been taken care of. Didn't go back to that particular restaurant again, just in case.

[@highpath4776]

you werent a copper at the time ?

[@Slycockney]

@@highpath4776 No I wasn't, nothing as exciting as that.

[@TheUluxian]

Sounds like you had an admirer..

[@Slycockney]

@@TheUluxian All very weird, and slightly disturbing

[@Pluggit1953]

I used to haunt the specialist jazz record shops in Soho in the seventies. It always had a great vibe there.

[@AtheistOrphan]

Quite a lot of jazz magazines around there too! 😉

[@Pluggit1953]

@@AtheistOrphan used to have a subscription to Downbeat.

[@AtheistOrphan]

@@Pluggit1953 - Not quite the jazz mag I have in mind when I think of Soho! 😉

[@Pluggit1953]

@@AtheistOrphan Jiz mags?

[@lg5819]

Over the years I’ve been to soho many times. I enjoy visiting soho square, on a summers day, when it’s busy, watching the table tennis, eating a sandwich on a park bench with a cup of tea, having a chat with somebody, before doing some shopping in the west end. And if I have any leftover bread from my sandwich, I feed the pigeons there, but as soon as you do that, hordes of them descend from the trees above and congregate around your park bench, pecking at the bread crumbs on the pavement… Also, during the World Cup, in previous years, I remember when Italy was playing in the final, and I was having coffee with a friend in Bar Italia, in Frith Street, Soho. It was mayhem, with crowds everywhere, including, many Italians well dressed, cheering Italy on to win. And Italians, sitting on Ducati’s reeving their engines, showing off. 🇮🇹 ☕️

[@EdwardWFeery]

I had the best cheese croissant I've ever had in Maison Bertaux last weekend. I'd just spent two hours trying to find a decent cafe within walking distance of Euston, and that was about the point where I gave up and went to ogle the guitars on Denmark Street. Anyway, great video about one of my favourite parts of London, and I look forward to more!

[@highpath4776]

Fairly decent Cafes near Euston are more around the South of St Pancras / North of Russell Square Station - sort of Brunswick Street Arear

[@starbuckthethird]

Speaking of Soho, a Jago video on Denmark Street would be a treat. One can hope.

[@hb1338]

Is Denmark Street in Soho ? Discuss.

[@erik_griswold]

A Jago video on Denmark too please.

[@sr6424]

Soho in Birmingham. You look at the history of industry the word Soho crops up all the time. The most famous is the Soho Foundry. Mathew Boulton lived in Soho House. If yo ever take the train from Birmingham to Wolverhampton you go passed a depot before Smethwick. It’s named Soho Pool

[@bjoernaltmann]

The little half timbered hut in Soho Square featured in the adaptation of the book 84 Charing Cross Road. There is a scene with Anthony Hopkins in front of that building

[@mkendallpk4321]

Jago, I don't consider you a nerd. No sir! You're a connoisseur of railroad history in the UK.

[@Jablicek]

Soho, where you could find an adult shop next to a preschool. Ah, the 80s were an interesting time to be alive.

[@BuzzinsPetRock78]

In the IT world there is a term Soho. It simply stands for Small Office & Home. For things like network equipment etc that isn't quite suited for large office or professional use. I've always wondered if the two were related....

[@hb1338]

Small Office Home Office seems to be more common.

[@BuzzinsPetRock78]

@@hb1338 Eh...it could be that, sort of depended on the manufacturer (It's not an official term, so the definition was open for discussion...)

[@DanielsPolitics1]

Oddly, Soho has a great deal of very high end IT kit. Because of the media presence, it hosts play out sites, and some video editing.

[@thehaprust6312]

A bunch of new neighborhood names like "NOMA" have cropped up in DC over the past couple of decades, mostly as an effort of real estate branding. Sort of like when you see a housing development with the name "Something Landing" and there's no bloody water about. Of course, we also have "The National Harbor" which is not and has never been a harbor, so caveat emptor.

[@stevemaynard6358]

When Soho fields was a designated hunting ground in Tudor times it was bordered using blue posts to let the riders know of the designated hunting area. In Soho today I think there are four pubs called the blue posts

[@MattMcIrvin]

I always just assumed the London Soho was a contraction of a much longer name like "Southhampton" or something similar, but I guess not, or if so, it was so long ago that the origin is lost.

[@themoviedealers]

If that were the case, it would still be spelled that way, but pronounced Soho.

[@heidirabenau511]

I've never heard of this one, Jago! Thanks for explaining, Jago!

[@gilbertharding5041]

I thought it got its name from the furtive and questioning way male visitors would greet the local females.: "So.... ho?"

[@brick6347]

When I was a kid, I was surprised to learn Mozart lived in Soho. As an adult and having learned more about Mozart and his proclivities... well, I'd be surprised if he didn't live in Soho.

[@thomasburke2683]

I'm sure it was less "cultural" in Mozart's time.

[@brick6347]

@@thomasburke2683 You're kidding, right? Brothels were like Costa Coffee in the 18th Century.

[@hb1338]

He didn't live there - he stayed in a house on Cecil Court during the London section of the Grand Tour. He was 8 years old at the time.

[@frglee]

Haydn lodged in Great Pulteney Street in Soho in 1791, which had then just been constructed. A blue plaque now marks the spot. Haydn was something of a musical superstar whilst in London, liked the city, and made a lot of money performing and writing music there. He returned for another successful visit in 1794.

[@thomasburke2683]

@@brick6347 that's true, they were widespread, not limited to Soho.

[@peterrivet648]

There's a Soho in Birmingham, too - north west of the city centre. There, the name is claimed to be an abbreviation of "South House", rather than copied from the London district.

[@delurkor]

Future topic suggestion: Circus, as in Piccadilly Circus. Which is much better than Piccadilly Roundabout. But then roundabout is close to roustabout, and they work for the circus. So maybe a connection?

[@tracik1277]

At 3:25 you get a glimpse of the blue and white striped awning of the wonderful Maison Berteaux which sells the BEST cakes in Soho. And the staff are lovely.

[@paultidd9332]

A visit to London wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Soho, Old Compton Street, for a bite to eat and a drink!

[@dblyth5098]

In Birmingham, there is a Soho Road, which incidently was part of the old Stage Coach route, between London, Liverpool and Holyhead/Ireland. Today's A41.

[@Shinycelebi]

The SOHO here in NYC is pronounced "South of House-ton", spelled as Houston.

[@AllensTrains]

Quite a useful book on the subject of place-names is Margaret Gelling, 'Signposts to the past". This would suggest the derivation is from Soham, meaning 'lake, swamp, marsh'. Thanks for uploading.

[@msamour]

I always thought that SOHO was an acronym for Small Office Home Office.

[@kenmorris100]

Yes Jago the origins of Soho long lost in time well before Manhattan's SoHo or the Soho foundry in Birmingham. Very much an chameleon between daytime offices and street market and nightime entertainments. In my teens in the 1960s I got a part time evening job in one of the cafes to earn some extra money to pay for clothes etc. and broaden my education at the same time! With all the restaurants there were some very good shops selling kitchenware which I used later on in life.

[@davidkelly3751]

Always love seeing the evolution of Soho from the seedy mid-eighties; Madame JoJo being a highlight, as is La Boheme (still there) and Ronnie Scott. One area that is always a puzzle is Strand and in particular, Villiers St with Gordon's Wine Bar where a beaker of tawny port in the cave section a treat. Player's Theatre was one theatre I frequented - "Whoa the fairies; nothing in slender but feminine gender" was the theme singalone and "Burlington Berty from Bow" was a frequent favourite. Strand itself has an interesting history, from grand houses on the bank of the Thames to, well, not being on the river!

[@iandixon2201]

Quite possibly your best pay off line ending yet Mr Hazzard.

[@SF-br8bu]

I'd understood that soho was the name of stagecoach that travelled from an inn in the area. Soho being a hunting call and therefore implying the coach was fast (like naming it The Greyhound for comparison). Not sure if soho was the name of the pub and therefore the area took the name like Angel etc.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

Famous Last Words: “What exactly would you hunt in SoHo? Please keep your answers family-friendly.”

[@phil_p]

Beaver? 😅

[@russbetts1467]

@@phil_p LOL!!!

[@andrescannell4202]

Totally agree with your disapproval of sanitised name changes. Carnaby is all about the street, and NoHo is just abhorrent. It reminds me of how a committee was formed to re-name Tiger Bay (Welsh: Bae Teigr)in Cardiff, as thet area had the sort of reputation docklands often seem to get, and the geniuses came up with Cardiff Bay! Shirley Bassey used to be the girl from Tiger Bay; somehow the girl from Cardiff Bay doesn't have anywhere near the same amount of clout.

[@markstramtrainbuscapades1729]

I'm originally from the West Midlands town of Smethwick, which has a district called Soho, with it being the home of James Watt's Soho Foundry, now Avery scales factory, where I was a toilet cleaner in the late nineties. A really historic place. Nearby, the main road through the Birmingham suburb of Handsworth (until 1911, a separate town) is the Soho Road, and James Watt's house, near to this, is Soho House.

[@murdelabop]

There's also a "SoHo" in Tampa, Florida, USA. Short for "South Howard Avenue". It's a residential district. While seedy in the past, it is in the process of gentrifying into an upper middle class neighborhood.

[@gnhansen29]

Great video. You even showed footage of where I stayed in Soho when I visited London.

[@johnjephcote7636]

Soho also is mentioned in The Old Curiosity Shop. The hunting expression is like 'Yoiks, Tally-Ho!' and the notes in my book state that the area was a hunting ground.

[@Eddyspeeder]

Fantastic Jago quote: "If you don't like the history, well there will be new history along soon enough."

[@MrTonyHeath]

Used to work there in the sixties in Dean Street. Wonderful.

[@andyhall7032]

wasn't aware chinatown was in soho...in fact I didn't think anything on the south side of shaftesbury avenue was considered soho. so good to know.

[@v8pilot]

When I was 16 I hitchhiked with some friends to London to see Georgie Fame playing the blues in the Flamingo.

[@brettpalfrey4665]

It is nice to see Soho as being a lot less seedy than it was in the late 70s/early 80s..I think that I first paid a whole £1 for a pint in Soho, c.1979. About £7 a pint these days? Nice video, Jago!

[@andybaker2456]

Ah, but IS Chinatown technically part of Soho? I always thought that the southern boundary of Soho was Shaftesbury Avenue, and as Chinatown is to the south of the aforementioned avenue, surely that means it separates the two into distinct entities?

[@markovichamp]

Years ago I was told by a Londoner that it was a contraction of 'South House', presumably a name of a house, maybe a pub, in the area.

[@metricstormtrooper]

We have a So Ho here where I live in southern Tasmania, it's SOuth HObart.

[@captainjoshuagleiberman2778]

South of Houston in NY. Pronounced Howston. Fun fact, Stan Laurel was born in Soho.

[@hb1338]

Erm, no. Stan Laurel was a Lancastrian, and Oliver Hardy came from Georgia (USA).

[@anthonyli5589]

In fact, Hong Kong also has a Soho, which means “South of Hollywood Road”, and a weird named Soho East pretty far away

[@stevecooksley]

I worked around Soho for years and never considered it downmarket. Just a bloody nightmare for traffic.

[@Redkite-nd8gc]

Hey Jago Did you know the spillers building in Silvertown is being redeveloped at last. Perhaps you could capture the features and talk about its history before its all gone. It’s just a thought.

[@hb1338]

The residents of Soho used to describe it as having a village-like atmosphere. I suspect that what they meant was that there were a few nice cafes and pubs where the majority of customers were local residents - that notion certainly applies to certain other districts, such as Marylebone.

[@JamieBoy-ij2ri]

There’s a brand new theatre in soho named Soho Place and I saw As You like it there before Christmas

[@Alan-ln3ls]

The community of Starbeck in North Yorkshire, formerly best known for its engine shed (shed code 50D), used to be regarded as extremely down-market compared to its illustrious neighbours, and a local estate agent, anxious to avoid the dreaded S-word, described it as " 'twixt Harrogate and Knaresborough". As to odd names in the London area, as a Mitcham boy born and bred, I have long wondered about the origin of the local road name Taffy's How.

[@MichaelTavares]

I especially liked the grumpy old man rant at the end

[@amitbasu8159]

Thanks. I enjoyed that despite being cruelly singled out as a minority who describes Chinatown as part of Soho, which is surely one of the most clearly defined districts of London. And I completely agree on trying to invent new names for tiny bits of London, a particularly pointless practice.

[@ZGryphon]

I would totally live on Merde Street, just for all the "huh?" reactions I'd get when confirming my address to doctors' offices and whatnot on the phone.

[@PMA65537]

I was at work years ago when I got an unexpected phone call from someone cheerfully saying "Hello, I'm Robert Clive!". I had a different work phone call with Mandy Smith. As for whoever asked if he could speak to Terry Knight ... I told him I didn't mind but do you know his phone number?

[@hb1338]

@@PMA65537 I once has a girl friend who introduced herself as "I'm Anna Smith, if you mention the word Nicole, I'll deck you."

[@andyjay729]

New York's Houston Street is pronounced "House-tun" As other commenters have probably pointed out by now, native New Yorkers can identify out-of-towners by how they pronounce the street.

[@philking7805]

I quite happily grew up in Fulham, and was more than a bit surprised the first time I spied a neighbours' house for sale being advertised by the agent as being in West Chelsea 😀

[@sailorjohnboy2325]

I saw the Pirates of Penzance and another play I don't remember almost 40 years ago there. A good time in my misspent youth or maybe well spent youth.

[@jerribee1]

How about doing something on old shops in London. I just checked Google Maps, and James Smith, the umbrella shop, is still in New Oxford Street. I remember it from the 70's and I was always intrigued by the fact that they advertised sword sticks, among other things. Another one that comes to mind is The Old Curiosity Shop.

[@RichardWatt]

My wife and I saw that the other week when we were in London.

[@eattherich9215]

I used to work on Holborn Viaduct and bought two umbrellas from James Smith & Sons which I still have, although the black cloth of one of them has turned brown.

[@hb1338]

@@JP_TaVeryMuch For the rycin presumably.

[@jerribee1]

​@@hb1338,😄

[@munkeyweb]

I like hunting bears in Soho, they're certainly plentiful in certain spots

[@christianshields4164]

You know one of the most surprising things about this video is that Jago has never been to New York

[@SamLowryDZ-015]

Ah the record shops of Berwick Street - Friday night in the Intrepid Fox - Staggering over the road to the old Marquee, or if no one interesting was playing, down to the Won Kei and arguing with waiters to get a table upstairs so you got a free pot of Jasmine tea - happy student days in Soho.

[@stuartburton1167]

I remember being told by a very reliable source that Soho stood for South Ham. As the reliable source needed to lean on the pub bar to stop him from slumping to the ground I am not going to stake my life on it being true.

[@richardcrossley5581]

There is a Soho in Hong Kong. It stands for South of Hollywood, as in Hollywood Road. Like its namesake in London, the HK Soho has many bars and restaurants.

[@pacificostudios]

In Los Angeles, we have "WEHO" for "West Hollywood," and "NOHO" for "North Hollywood." NOHO is miles from Hollywood, on the other side of the Santa Monica mountains. So don't plan to walk to NOHO when you're in Hollywood. My favorite of these new geographic acronyms is "DUMBO" for "Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass." I kid you not. That's the best that the realtors could come up with for this little piece of Brooklyn near the East River.

[@HerbertDuckshort]

“What exactly would you hunt in Soho?” Beaver…….obviously.

[@jschreiber6461]

So no ho…then ?😅

[@stephenlee5929]

Wouldn't that be fishing? Clerically speaking.

[@stephenlee5929]

@@JP_TaVeryMuch Would that be by telegram?

[@laurajacobs9538]

In NYC, it’s “how-stun” with the ‘s’ and ‘t’ fully pronounced, not glided(?) over as they sometimes are by the Brits.

[@garycook5071]

Mid 19th century was a slum which had a major outbreak of cholera in 1854

[@highpath4776]

I forgot Snow's statute and the Pump were just on the north part of Soho.

[@stanislavkostarnov2157]

I heard the older version of the name being either "Sou-hoy" or "Syw-Hoe" "hoe"/"hoy" being a Norse-Norman term for a sandy bank on a river used to pull up the prows of longboats & canoes whilst "Syw"/ "Sou" being versions of a Celtic-Saxon word used for small but valuable wild-game such as young deer or foxes....

[@erik_griswold]

Seattle has an area called “Sodo” which refers to it being the area south of where the King County Domed Stadium once stood.

[@hb1338]

Soma in San Francisco - south of Market Street.

[@Bondek1996]

As a tour guide I sometimes tried to explain the origin. Once had an American surprised that it wasn't like their SoHo.

[@coyotelong4349]

“What exactly would you hunt in Soho? Please keep your answers family-friendly” 😂