In this episode, which is No. 8 in Danny Hurst´s Monopoly board series, he shares the fascinating history of Pall Mall. It is the home to some of London´s most exclusive and poshest clubs. Sit back and enjoy stories of spies, James Bond, Madonna, Casanova, gentlemen´s clubs and royal connections as well as learning about a weird connection with a croquet-like game and the dictionary.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The RAC club is where some soviet spies used to meet up. Exactly who they were is shared in the episode.
• The RAC club has its own Post Office
• Pall Mall is different from The Mall.
• Pall Mall was named after a game called Pell Mell, which was played in the area.
• The street name is why Americans have shopping malls. Why that is the case is explained in the podcast.
• The connection to Pall Mall cigarettes is not what you think.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Pall Mall is quite posh. ´

‘Pall Mall is famous for its gentlemen´s clubs.’

‘The Reform Club was one of the first gentlemen's clubs to change its rules on allowing women.’

EPISODE RESOURCES

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

How to play Pell Mell - https://www.tradgames.org.uk/games/Pall-Mall.htm

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, 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…