Beyond Big Ben: 10 Unexpected Facts About London's Hidden Side
How much do you really know about London, England's iconic capital? Let’s take a journey back in time to uncover some bizarre – and rather grim – facts about this historic city.
1. London's Fiery Origins: The Romans established London nearly 2,000 years ago, but it didn’t last long. Boudicca, a fierce queen of a Celtic tribe, burned it to the ground shortly after.
2. A City for Sale: King Richard the Lionheart was so desperate for funds for his Crusade battles that he declared he would sell London if he could find a buyer.
3. A Brutal Execution: The infamous William Wallace met a gruesome fate in London, where he was hung, drawn, and quartered—a truly horrific end.
4. Misguided Beliefs: During the 17th Century, Londoners believed that whipping themselves could ward off the plague, one of the deadliest diseases of the time.
5. Royal Privileges: Elizabeth I did away with the position of “Groom of the Stool,” the unfortunate person responsible for attending to the monarch during their bathroom visits.
6. Medieval Waste: Medieval Londoners—both humans and animals—produced an astonishing 50,000kg of waste daily, equivalent to the weight of over six double-decker buses!
7. Blood of a King: King Charles I was executed near the Houses of Parliament, and onlookers believed that dipping their handkerchiefs in his blood would cure their ailments.
8. Queen Victoria’s Peculiarity: Before she became Queen, Victoria had to hold someone's hand whenever she descended stairs—quite an unusual royal protocol.
9. A Stolen Safeguard: Bran the Blessed, an early English king, was beheaded and his head was buried beneath the White Mount (now the Tower of London) to protect England. However, his head, along with two others, was stolen.
10. Foul Smells: In 1369, King Edward III banned butchers from slaughtering animals within the City of London due to the unbearable stench from blood and offal, which was often dumped into the River Thames.
London's rich history is filled with fascinating, if somewhat gruesome, tales that remind us of the city's complex past. These facts offer just a glimpse into the darker side of life in old London, showcasing the resilience and peculiarities of its people through the ages.