• In this episode, which is the 21st of Danny Hurst´s Monopoly placename history series he tells us all about the 3rd of the yellow squares – Piccadilly. He explains how the street got its name from a fashion accessory, its connection with the theory of evolution, and how a squatter protest led to the area being taken over by Hell´s Angels.

He shares the details of The Albany´s rich history and famous residents, the street´s bookshops, hotels and much more.

*CORRECTION!!! The Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain was constructed in memory of the 7th Earl of Shaftesbury, not the 8th as it says in this podcast. Also, the 7th Earl did not commit suicide, the 8th did.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Piccadilly was formerly named after the wife of Charles II.
• The street was home to several mansions, one of which now house many of the UK´s most important institutions.
• A former squatters' commune on Piccadilly is now home to one of the world's most luxurious hotels.
• Piccadilly played an important role in the UK´s gay history.
• Due to people´s shaky understanding of classical mythology, one of the street’s statues has been misidentified.
• Fortnum and Mason´s was the first store in the UK to sell soft toilet paper.
• The world´s oldest bookshop is on Piccadilly.

BEST MOMENTS

‘I do beg your pardon; I sound like an old fart…. ´

‘The Dilly was the location of clandestine gay bars.’

‘Raffles the gentleman burglar lives here.’

EPISODE RESOURCES

Shop for all official versions of Monopoly here - https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/page/785DC233-0A69-4DF8-98E9-4F50CC50A59E

HOST BIO

Historian, performer, and mentor Danny Hurst has been engaging audiences for many years, whether as a lecturer, stand-up comic or intervention teacher with young offenders and excluded secondary students. Having worked with some of the most difficult people in the UK, he is a natural storyteller and entertainer, whilst purveying the most fascinating information that you didn't know you didn't know. A writer and host of pub quizzes across London, he has travelled extensively and speaks several languages. He has been a consultant for exhibitions at the Imperial War Museum and Natural History Museum in London as well as presenting accelerated learning seminars across the UK. With a wide range of knowledge ranging from motor mechanics to opera to breeding carnivorous plants, he believes learning is the most effective when it's fun. Uniquely delivered, this is history without the boring bits, told the way only Danny Hurst can.

CONTACT AND SOCIALS

https://instagram.com/dannyjhurst
facebook.com/danny.hurst.9638

https://twitter.com/dannyhurst 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/danny-hurst-19574720

Podcast Description

"History is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake." James Joyce.

That was me at school as well. Ironically, I ended up becoming a historian. The Unusual Histories podcast is all about the history you don't learn at school, nor indeed anywhere else. Discover things that you didn't know that you didn't know, fascinating historical luminaries and their vices and addictions, and the other numerous sides of every story.

We start with the Monopoly Series, in which we explore how the game came to be, the real-life connection between the cheapest and most expensive properties, the history of each location, how proportionate the values were then and are today, what the hell a "community chest" is and whether free parking really does exist anywhere in London. 

If you love history; or indeed if you hate history, this is the podcast for you…