In this episode, which is No. 6 in Danny´s Monopoly Squares History series you get to learn all about Euston Road. This inner London Ring road which is right on the boundary of the congestion charge zone has been giving drivers grey hair for centuries. The road has seen a lot of change, including the one of the greatest acts of architectural vandalism. It is home to several once-iconic buildings, 6 stations and fantastic museums. Surprisingly, it also has its very own wind tunnel and is home to a building that makes Danny think of Trumpton. You´ll have to listen to find out which one. There is a slight error in this episode,  Euston was the first inter-city railway station in central London rather than the first actual station as stated. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Ironically, Euston Road was built hundreds of years ago to help farmers to avoid congestion. 
• The road was named after the landowner´s ancestral home.
• Euston Station was the first central London railway station.
• The original entrance arch stands on Euston Road, though originally it was demolished ahead of the original Euston station.
• For train and tube travellers, Euston Road is a magnet. It has 6 stations.
• The British Library building is on Euston Road.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Everyone goes this way to avoid paying. ´

‘This is believed to be the windiest part of the capital.’

‘The church is a Greek Revival church.’

EPISODE RESOURCES

Trumpton fan website - http://www.t-web.co.uk/trumptmp.htm

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…