Monday Miscellanea

Dave Haste
By Dave Haste Last edited 197 months ago
Monday Miscellanea
St Pancras Chambers

This Week In London’s History

  • Monday1st October 1868: St. Pancras Station is officially opened as the London terminus for the Midland Railway, despite its construction being incomplete. Part of the buildings would form the iconic gothic St. Pancras Chambers, which housed the Midland Grand Hotel.
  • Tuesday2nd October 1909: Twickenham Stadium hosts its first ever rugby match, with Harlequins beating Richmond 14-10. Wednesday3rd October 1975: After three days of holding several of the staff at a Knightsbridge Italian restaurant hostage in a storeroom, three gunmen surrender to police. The hostages are released unharmed. Thursday4th October 1911: London Underground’s first escalator goes into service at Earl’s Court tube station. Friday5th October 1999: 31 people die and over 400 are injured as two trains collide head-on at Ladbroke Grove Junction, two miles west of Paddington Station.

    Random London Fact Of The Week

    If you book a table for 13 at the Savoy Grill, the hotel will superstitiously add another guest to your party, rounding the number of diners up to 14.

    Fortunately, you will not have to share your evening with just any old passing vagrant. The Savoy have a permanent guest whom they press into service on these occasions – none other than Kaspar, a three foot tall wooden cat.

    The origins of this tradition date back to 1898, when the host of a party of 13 was killed shortly after dining in the hotel’s restaurant. Determined prevent further such tragedies, the hotel vowed again never to allow a party of 13 to dine there.

    London’s Weather This Week

    Warmer than last week, but plenty of rain nonetheless.

    Last Updated 01 October 2007