Monday Miscellanea

By londonist_alex2 Last edited 216 months ago
Monday Miscellanea
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This day in London’s history

1905: Thomas and Ann Farrow, South London shopkeepers, were discovered by neighbours after having been violently attacked at home. Thomas was already dead and Ann died four days later. Their killers, brothers Alfred and Albert Stratton, were convicted on the basis of fingerprint evidence, the very first time this technique was used, launching forensic science in the process. The Strattons went to the gallows in May of that year.

That's about it really. Although it is amusing to note that the Swiss finished the construction of FART , on this day in 1923. Presumably they'd been brewing it for ages etc etc.

London fact of the week

Alfred and Albert swung at Wandsworth Prison, on the gallows known as 'The Cold Meat Shed' (now a staff recreation room). Other notables to have meet their maker there include Lord Haw Haw , Derek Bentley and John George Haigh .

Wandsworth has capacity for 1,416 prisoners, making it the largest prison in London and the second largest in the country, after Liverpool. Ronnie Biggs escaped from there in 1965.

Londoner of the week

Christine Ohuruogu, 21, of Stratford, is now the Commonwealth champion over 400 metres. In 2012 she will be 27, the same age Cathy Freeman was when she won gold at the Sydney Olympics. Christine, the pressure starts here.

One thing you must do in London this week

Head over to the Guildhall Art Gallery (pictured) in Gresham Street for the 'London Now - City of Heaven, City of Hell' exhibition , where ten artists are showing their take on the city. Apparently the score works out as Hell:6, Heaven:4, but we fancy that's probably due to the fact that most of the artists use the District Line, which was a right shower of shit this morning, thank you very much.

Last Updated 27 March 2006