Two London Secrets In One Place

See the place where the Krays were finally arrested, right next to a special bit of paving. The location is just west of Bunhill Fields, on Bunhill Row, a short walk from Old Street station.

[Londonistvids]

Note: in the video, we say the Kray twins never tasted freedom again... this is not entirely correct. Reggie Kray was released on compassionate grounds a few weeks before his death in 2000.

[timmygomez]

Awesome video! I love learning about London and all the quirks she contains. Glad you guys are back

[Puckoon]

There is a section of Falkland Rd, between Fortess Rd and Leverton St, in Kentish Town, NW5, has wooden blocks, but they've been covered by asphalt.

[peterharms]

In the early days of the Swan river colony (Perth Western Australia) mid 1800's vast quantities of Jarrah (a very hard wood) were shipped over to London for road paving. It was also sold to victorian furniture makers as Swan river mahogany as it polishes up beautifully. So a lot of English victorian furniture that people think is mahogany, is in fact Western Australian jarrah

[johngardner]

Roads in the city centre of Hull's old town used to be made of wooden blocks (or 'setts'), which used to float to the top of the water's surface when they were flooded. However, they never settled down into their previous places when the waters receded. The result was piles of setts which needed to be individually replaced into the underlying gravel. Tedious!

[christianluts]

Sidmouth Street, just of Gray's Inn Road, still has its wooden block paving in situ - albeit beneath a couple of layers or tarmac. Caused no end of consternation when dug into by some Eastern European building contractors working for Kelly Communications.

[conorwilson]

never been to the island of Britain ( have been to ni ) or london in my life but still watch these videos

[Larry]

I'm surprised they never resurrected the idea of wooden paving, it could be considered more eco friendly if they use old railway sleepers Etc.

[sandcalc]

there's wooden paving (partly!) still on a mews south of South Kensington.

[evancortez]

I think like most people, I first became aware of the Krays from the movie with the Kemp brothers

[georges]

Great stuff! You now have me wondering where London's other wooden roads were.

[RisqueBisquet]

Well huh! I used to walk by that building fairly regularly. Who'd've known.

[bobstreet]

But what's the fifth least-used station in London?

[DreamClean]

I feel like I've seen those wooden paving blocks elsewhere. Are we sure they're the last example in the whole of London??

[skymotel]

There is an entrance to a mews in Chelsea that goes under an arch and there are wooden blocks in the roadway there. Is there anymore anywhere?

[Theladytravels]

Absolutely fascinating, particularly about those beautiful historic wooden blocks along Chequer Street. What a shame Islington Council painted double yellow lines across them x

[mcbain]

They've just removed all of the cladding from Braithwaite House.. RIP Grenwell

[jonathancook]

All streets should be made of wood - not a pot hole in sight

[AlisonBryen]

Pretty sure that wooden road is the best maintained road in all of Britain!

[staper]

roughly how long do those wooden blocks date back to?