London Off The Beaten Path Tips by DAO

ABBEY ROAD STUDIOS

Beatles fan?
Well you can go to the Abbey Roads studio easy enough. The Beatles began recording here on June 6, 1962 and they recorded a vast amount of their singles and albums here. It is still a working studio today so many people sign the wall outside as a tribute (pictured). Don’t get too excited the weather and decorators remove everything every few months. The famous ‘zebra crossing’ from the cover of their Abbey Road album is still there – although many inconsiderate drivers make it dangerous. I almost got hit! You can book a group tour – but you have to pay.

TUBE STATION: ST JOHNS WOOD

** WARNING! Do not go to Abbey Road Station on the DLR - it is miles away! **

Other Contact: bookings@abbeyroad.com

Phone: +44 (0)20 7266 7000

Website: http://www.abbeyroad.com/

THE ZEPPELIN BUILDING

This is an amazing piece of history that is located on the side of a fairly non-descript road here in London. During World War I, Germany used massive Zeppelin rigid airships as bombers during the first half of the war. Essentially these were massive 196 metres (643 ft) long balloons with a diameter of 24 metres (79 ft). From 1915 to 1917 they were able to bomb London freely because they operated at altitudes up to 5,000 metres (16,500 feet) and moved at speed of 80kph (50mph). Fighter planes at the time took 50 minutes to reach just 3048 metres (10,000 ft). They also were above the range of anti-aircraft guns of that era. The original building on this site was completely destroyed during the most successful of all the Zeppelin raids on London on September 8, 1915. The building at 61 Farringdon Road was hit by a bomb from Zeppelin L13 commanded by Kapitänleutnant Heinrich (1883-1916) Heinrich Mathy. This single zeppelin and bombing run caused half the damage of all Zeppelin raids on Britain in 1915.

The building at the time was occupied by the Brass Foundry and Lamp Co. Ltd. As well as West and Price Jewellers. The building was rebuilt in the last year of Zeppelin Raids – 1917. The Managing Director of the Brass Foundry and Lamp Company, Mr. John Phillips, is listed on the plaque commemorating the rebuilding. It says ‘The’ World War as the much more damaging Blitz of World War II would not occur for another 20 years. The building is painted a very Zeppelin like grey and it architecturally different from its neighbours. Today the building is listed as 59-61 Farringdon Road and interestingly houses a business specialising in first aide training (RST Ltd.).

There are other plaques and memorials to these raids in London:

• 31 Nevill Road, Hackney. The first bomb of World War I to fall from a Zeppelin on London 30 May 1915
• Lincoln's Inn Chapel Undercroft, bomb damage 13 October 1915
• Dolphin Tavern, Red Lion Street, Holborn, London, WC1R 4PF. The clock on display still shows the time of 10.40 pm on 9th September 1915 when 3 men were killed.

Website: http://londonist.com/2010/07/wwi_airship_attacks_on_london_mappe.php

BETHNAL GREEN TRAGEDY

On 3 March 1943, the worst civilian disaster in the UK during World War II happened here. 173 people were crushed to death when dozens and dozens of people tumbled over each other to take shelter in the tube station. This horrible tragedy occurred when there were no German aircraft in the area and the Tube Station was not even operational yet.

The Tube was a popular place for the public to escape the Blitz. Bethnal Green Tube Station had become such a well used air raid shelter, that a nearby left luggage facility housed the bedding people took down the stairs.

On the morning of the tragedy an air raid alarm had sounded because enemy aircraft had been spotted in the London area. At the same time an anti-aircraft unit nearby tested a new weapon. As local people scrambled down the stairs with their bedding, it just started with a person or two slipping before a massive crush of bodies caused the tragedy.

Although it was reported by the papers at the time, it was decided to keep the location unpublished.

Today a large memorial is being planned and funds sought to build a larger tribute to this sad loss of human life.

Bethnal Green tube station is a station on the Central Line if you would like to visit.

Website: http://airminded.org/2006/03/04/the-bethnal-green-tube-disaster/