Yesterday's London Times

Until very recently, only London held the distinction of hosting the Summer Olympics three times, more than any other city in the world. The Games in London have been pivotal, memorable, and marked by very significant historical context, beginning with the early 20th-century growth of the modern Olympics in 1908, to the intense symbolism of post-war recovery in 1948, and finally the modern legacy of the 2012 Games.

In this episode, we are stepping back in time to explore all three London Olympiads. We will take a look at some of the great athletes and notable moments of the Games, but our focus will more deeply center on the symbiotic relationship
of London to the Olympics. For better or worse, depending on the perspective, this global spectacle of sport has definitely made a permanent imprint on the city; at the same time, London has absolutely made a lasting imprint on the modern games - arguably more than any other city in the world.  

Ready to run, swim, and jump into London Olympic history with us? Follow along with our show notes, and visit Yesterday’s London Times on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok for more information, images, sources, and fun!

In this episode, Jen and Mares take a moment to reflect on their journey as podcasters, and take a look back at episodes in their catalogue that both examine and celebrate London over time during the hottest months of the year. For both new listeners and veterans of the community alike, there’s something for everyone this summer in the city. We will highlight:

• virtual walking tours of past episodes, featuring the East end as sung in “Oranges & Lemons” and a “choose your own adventure” style romp through time and place in London
• the challenges of summers past, particularly during the plague and blight of the summer of 1858
• joy expressed through summertime pomp and celebration, with a focus on jubilees of the past as well as the legacy of Pride in the city
• the vibrancy, innovation, and wonder of the Swinging London summers of the 1960s
• holiday journeys outside the city, from medieval pilgrimages to Butlin’s Holiday Camps

This episode has it all: bougie soirées, fish mongers, epidemics, sewer systems, Victorian plant manias, Mary Quant, Mr Teezy Weezy, Gay’s the Word bookstore, Billy Butlin and more! These are just some of the people and places that have triggered our curiosity and given us hope as we’ve explored their place and relevance within London history. We couldn’t be happier or more humbled  that YOU, the YLT community, have joined us on this ride for the last three years. Cheers to you, and cheers to summer!

For your convenience, links to each episode discussed and its show notes are pulled together in our SHOW NOTES.

Mares and Jen have enjoyed playing  a game of luck called “Underground Roulette.”  The game is easy to play. Just select a tube stop at random, keep a curious mind, and hit the streets!  It’s an engaging way to get a sense of place and all that the city offers. 
But, what if we could add the dimension of time, seeing not only the neighborhood as it is, but as it was?

In this episode, we explore the underground stops with stories involving the theme of luck. 
London: a city where fame and fortune may await, given talent, drive, privilege, connections, and sometimes it comes down to luck. 

Our three stories feature: 

• horseshoes, normally associated with good luck, but not this time,
• counteracting the bad luck of the number 13, and, 
• when what seems like bad luck can be the best fortune yet. 

Along the way, we’ll visit an iconic location synonymous with luxury and spend time with some of the most famous people in modern history. 
Follow along on our SHOW NOTES. You’ll find photos, recordings, sources, and ways to find us.
Enjoy playing Underground Roulette. With a little luck, you’ll have a lot of fun!

Wildlife on the Tube: it’s not just on the Northern Line at night. It’s everywhere. Throughout the Underground, flora and fauna show up  intentionally - and unintentionally - in the most surprising places. In this episode, we will:

• explore the gardens maintained voluntarily by TfL employees 
• discuss the history of the London Underground In Bloom competition
• learn about a subspecies of mosquito that dwells in the Underground tunnels 
• meet pigeons who seem to intentionally and intelligently use the Tube to navigate the city 
• examine the tough lives of Underground mice, whose reality is a stark contrast to their cozy portrayal in popular culture 

In addition, we will:

• ponder how the city would be different if the Tube had never come to fruition
• ask tough questions about the safety of air quality on the Tube
• compare and contrast the impact of public and private transportation methods on the environment in general
• look at steps taken by TfL and the City of London to make the Tube safer for employees, patrons, and the environment

The impact of the Underground on the city of London is indisputable. But how deeply does the system impact the ecosystem of the city as a whole? Join us for a journey into the natural world that adapts, survives, and sometimes even thrives within this human made modern marvel that is the London Underground. 

See our SHOW NOTES for photos, videos, links, sources, and more. 

“Is it worth anything to you, guv’nor?”

It’s boots on the street in city centre as we pinball through time … from the 1600s, to 1912, to current day.  We’ll think and wonder about how unknown treasures might exist even in the heart of an urban area.

Along the way we’ll …

• park ourselves in Cheapside, and learn of its history,
• shine a light on the work of a group of navvies, who excavated below the streets as railroads, underground trains, and construction projects transformed the cityscape,
• experience the thrill of uncovering a buried treasure, and gape in awe at its contents,
• consider the ownership of found objects,
• meet George Fabian “Stoney Jack” Lawrence, who had the right skill set for a specific period, 
• explore theories about the hoard: Who hid it? Why didn’t they ever return for it?
• peek into the world of modern day detectorists 

The SHOW NOTES are an absolutely must as you enjoy this episode.  You’ll see photos of the hoard, links, maps, videos, links to stories, and of course, our sources.  So much to discover. Treasures await.

Providing up to 5 million passenger journeys a day, the London Underground is integral to the city's infrastructure.  It's impossible to imagine how the city would function without it.
But why would something built for purpose become a source of admiration and entertainment?  A Transport for London style guide provides powerful evidence: "Every Underground station should include at least one moment of delight and surprise, to improve customers' journeys and the working environment for staff."
A-ha!
Let's meet some Tube superfans.
Jen tells a story about Underground trainspotters and highlights the Tube in pop culture, while Mares looks at people who attempt the citywide Tube Challenge. 
We'll think about the nature of challenge, the history of tube spotting and racing challenges, and some of the unique and engaging personalities for whom the Tube (and Overground) truly is a constant delight and surprise.
See our SHOW NOTES for photos, links, sources, and more.

At Yesterday’s London Times, we are all about inquiry, questions and stories, particularly stories that are new to us or that we just want to know on a deeper level. We seek out people, places, and facets of history that are lesser known, quirkier, or even downright strange. We also like to shine a spotlight on those who really do - or have done - amazing things, but perhaps have been forgotten over time, or lost in the shuffle of a typical news cycle or history text. We especially love discovering stories about people who contribute to the collective good of humanity in some way. 

Early on in our  partnership, we (Jen and Mares) immediately recognized our common love and admiration for the London Underground, or Tube, for the Tube is something more than just the transportation system beneath our feet. It supplies life to the city of London, and with up to 5 million passenger journeys on any given day, it is the veins and arteries that allow all of the movement that keeps the city going and makes it such a special place.

Join us throughout the following year as we randomly choose destinations across the city to “visit”. We will virtually hop on the Tube and bring the city to your ears as we search for adventures around the stations of the iconic Underground map.  We will ask ourselves:

• Who lives here now? 
• Who has lived here in the past? 
• What are the stories that live within the streets of this area?
•  What do the people -  or perhaps the ghosts of former inhabitants - of this area want to teach us?
• What are some places to visit, what might I eat? 
• What is quirky or unique about this part of London? What can I learn from this area? 

The journey begins today. Where do you think the Tube will take us today?

As you listen, we invite you to follow along in our show notes to enhance your experience with us. 

A little romance?

What began as a fluff piece about an eccentric romance novelist turned into a snapshot of a century through the eyes of someone who lived it to the fullest.

Meet Barbara Cartland: extravagant, exaggerated, and … pink. As author of 723 books, she remains the most prolific romance novelist of all time. If you’ve ever seen her, you won’t likely forget her, dripping in jewels, layered in make up, clad in fuchsia, and riding in her classic white Rolls Royce.  

We’ll follow Barbara through the Great War, to 1920’s London with the Bright Young Things, to writing, motherhood, political involvement, and World War II.  And she’s just getting started, hitting the peak of her career in the 1980s, in her eighties. 

Along the way, we’ll rub elbows, (well, maybe more than elbows) with movers and shakers of many decades.  For example, have you ever heard of Lord Beaverbrook? Also, you won’t believe who joins the family in the 1970s!

We wrap up with a game you can join in at home.  It’s called Oh, Barbara.

While we have little in common with Barbara, and share few of her opinions, we have to respect someone who called her own shots and refused to be sidelined as an octogenarian. 
See our SHOW NOTES for photos, some quite rare, sources, and such.

Bears. Cute. Cuddly. 

But when we looked at them through the long lens of London history, it got complicated pretty quickly.

Join us as we take the ursine plunge, and think about….

• the bears that roamed Britain 7000 years ago 
• the Tower menagerie,
• blood sports such a bearbaiting, especially popular during the Elizabethan period,
• the invention of the stuffed bear and its significance in the Great War, 
• Pooh and Paddington, two special bears with London ties, and share unexpected commonalities

Plus, to kick off our exploration of underground and rail stations this year, we’re going to Paddington!

Our SHOW NOTES round out your listening experience, with photos, drawings, clips, links, sources, and more.

It's a Yesterday's London Times tradition - the Boxing Day episode!
Relax along with us as we look back at some of the people and places we met on the podcast this year. Half of our episodes sent us time traveling throughout the Sixties in different centuries of British history, and the other episodes were our regular mix of quirky yet thoughtful takes on the city we love.
We  present our annual YLT awards to some people who are unforgettable.  And not always in a good way.  The final award is always our Defender of the Collective Good Award, presented to the character(s) that most made a positive impact on their community.
Jen and Mares share some of their favorites: those pieces that make life just a bit better.
And we'll close with a look forward at our plans for 2024 at YLT. We're excited.

See our SHOW NOTES for referenced in the episode, plus links and drinks.