Monday Miscellanea

Dave Haste
By Dave Haste Last edited 126 months ago
Monday Miscellanea

Purcell Room

This Week In London’s History

  • Monday9 September 1960: Hugh John Mungo Grant is born in Hammersmith. He would become a well-recognised film actor and producer.
  • Tuesday10 September 1659: Henry Purcell is born in Westminster. He would become a hugely influential composer, posthumously lending his name to the Southbank Centre's 'Purcell Room'.
  • Wednesday11 September 1980: Armed robbers steal almost £1.5m worth of diamonds from a jewellery shop in Knightsbridge, west London. The haul includes a famous stone known as the 'Marlborough Diamond', worth £400,000. The robbers are arrested 11 hours later.
  • Thursday12 September 2005: The England cricket team beats Australia at The Oval, south London, winning the Ashes for the first time since 1987.
  • Friday13 September 1738: Work starts on laying the foundations of the original Westminster Bridge. Construction of the stone bridge would not be complete until 1750, and the structure would be replaced in 1862 by the wrought iron bridge that we know today.

Random London Quote Of The Week

The way was long and weary,

But gallantly they strode,

A country lad and lassie,

Along the heavy road!



The night was dark and stormy,

But blithe of heart were they,

For shining in the distance,

The lights of London lay!



O gleaming lights of London,

That gem of the city’s crown,

What fortunes be within you,

O Lights of London Town!

George Robert Sims, Lights of London

Photo by tripowski via the Londonist Flickr Pool.

Last Updated 08 September 2013