In this episode, which is No. 3 in Danny´s fascinating series which looks at the history of the places on the London Monopoly board he reveals some surprising facts about Whitechapel Road and indeed Whitechapel itself. A street which houses the skeleton of the Elephant Man (John Merrick), also has a strong connection with Jack the Ripper, Ronnie Kray, The Salvation Army, and Banksy. 

An interesting mix and that is only the tip of the iceberg of what Danny reveals about the road and the area which is immediately adjacent to it. Because Whitechapel has been shaped by waves of immigration from the 16th century onwards, its history is particularly rich and varied.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The Whitechapel area is named after a church.
• The Jack the Ripper connection is not what you think.
• Altab Ali Park was named after a young British Bangladeshi man, who was murdered in a racist attack.
• Many of the religious buildings have changed hands multiple times with each sale resulting in a new faith group worshipping there.
• The oldest bagel bakery is just off the street and weirdly now sells bacon.
• The Liberty Bell was made on Whitechapel Road.

BEST MOMENTS

‘The Jack the Ripper murders did not actually take place on Whitechapel Road. ´

‘Nearby, Brick Lane is famous for its Bangladeshi curry houses.’

‘A semi will set you back at around £880,000 which in 1936 was £15.071.05p.’

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, 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…