In this episode, which is No. 18 of Danny Hurst´s London Monopoly history series, we reach the obscure, yet fascinating, Fenchurch Street Station. The scene of the 1st murder on a train in Britain with a connection to The Hitchhiker´s Guide To The Galaxy, Green Street and Round The Horne.

Danny also shares the details of places nearby that offer spectacular views of London. Including a little-known one where you don´t have to book in advance. He also explains why the stations are a cash cow for Monopoly players.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Scotland Yard got ahead of the first person to murder someone on a train in the UK and apprehended him on his arrival in New York. Danny explains how.
• It is the only mainline station without direct access to an Underground station.
• The station is close to some great tourist destinations. Danny shares details of the best ones in the episode.
• London´s oldest market is nearby.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Google Maps didn´t exist in those days. ´

‘Fenchurch Street is named after the numerous hay markets.’

‘People often mistake Tower Bridge for London Bridge because the name is famous from the song.’

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…