I always tell visitors that it’s where William Shakespeare lived when writing the plays wot he wrote for Queen Elizabeth l, I’ve never been contradicted...
I didn't know about the sub-station bit but I had always assumed it was a shed for gardening tools. I couldn't think of anything else it could be as it obviously wasn't nearly as Ye Olde as it was cracking on to be. One of the many things in Soho that I either urinated on, vomited on or, more likely, both at some point in my misspent youth. I am not proud of this fact I merely report it :-D
Here in Baltimore Maryland USA, (famous for the war of 1812 and heroin capital of the country) the entire city is an open toilet, debatably more so the Essex/Dundalk area. (Fun fact, the water of Baltimore's Inner Harbor is mildly radioactive from years of wastewater from a now defunct chrome plating factory)
@@TheDonSapius I watched it on DVD a few months ago, I'm afraid I don't remember which exact episode it was. I'll scan through them all when I get a moment,
I would love to have been at the design meeting “Right lads, we are going to be housing a MODERN electrical device in a JACOBEAN square , just behind the statue of a JACOBEAN King, in Britain’s major CITY. Any idea what style is appropriate ? “ “I propose a Tudor Market Hall from a Market Town” “ Righty ho, Wooster . Next item “
I like the idea that it was originally built to conceal an electrical substation, thus retaining and even enhancing the historic feel of the square. Mock Tudor is often called Stockbrokers Tudor from its frequent appearance in 1930s outer London suburbs extending into Surrey, Middlesex, Berks, Bucks etc.
While I'm sure there are plenty of more interesting uses for a building like this, I think it's rather fitting that it's just a tool-shed.👍👌😁 Prime, prime site for so many things but no, it's a tool-shed - brilliant.
It's what I always heard described as "Stockbroker's Tudor", very popular in outer London suburbs of the 1930s. The giveaway compared to real Tudor, as in the reconstructed buildings in places like Coventry, is that the wooden beams are (relatively) straight, not warped by the passage of time (The Shambles in York, numerous thatched cottages, etc.)
The Ticket booth on Leicester Square covers the ventilator duct from the huge electricity substation underneath it. Part of which was a WW2 Air Raid shelter - the entry of which was a doorway on the stairs leading down to the gent's toilets.
I have passed that way for too many years to mention, but although I never knew anything about it, it never looked old or a serious building with a purpose, so I just ignored it. But this video is great, and now I will look at it with fresh eyes.
Right, my new lockdown project is to make my garden shed look like that. I may not succeed. Thanks for this vid, I've wondered what that was ever since I first saw it (though suspected it was a fancy potting shed). Glad to know it's listed, thanks.
In Waltham Abbey, Essex a known pub called the Welsh Harp, originally a farmer house :) ;) ;) then someone had the idea to make it look like a mock Tudor pub next to the Waltham Abbey :) ;) ;) ;) ;)
I have walked through Soho square hundreds of times and past that very building, without ever giving a thought to what it is/was. How very sad on my part.
@@TheDonSapius im not rich by any means but my wife is good at planning & finding good deals. For a trip 3 weeks with 3 countries flight & accommodation we pay $3000 & with something like air b&b its cheaper & great locations, for example in paris we stay right behind Notre Dame or up from the Eiffel Tower & down the street from the arch Arc de Triomphe . One of the big money savers is to go with more people
I found that film. Thank you for bringing it to my attention. It was pretty fascinating; and produced a whimsical nostalgia. Even though it's from before my time. I also like the circularity that it was produced by Rank; who of course were based in Wardour Street. Maybe that's how they kept their production budget so low; just film everyone within walking distance!
Please explain, what does "Grade 2 Listed" mean? Sorry, I'm American but fascinated and want to learn these things. To add to that, is Soho an abbreviation of something, if so, what is it short for? I know we have a Soho in NewYork but I'm not even sure what that's short for, I live in Baltimore Maryland and don't have many opportunities to travel farther than Pennsylvania, Virginia or Washington DC.
NYC Soho was so named in 1962 by Chester Rapkin an urban planner (see link below) and refers to 'South of Houston' (Street) but was also a nod to the REAL Soho ;-) in London which may be so named (apparently) because it was used by the King in ye olde days as hunting grounds and 'So-ho!!!' was a hunting cry like 'Tally-ho' or whatever but I'm skeptical about this as it doesn't exactly roll of the tongue. www.nytimes.com/2001/02/03/nyregion/chester-rapkin-82-urban-planning-theorist.html
Listed buildings are of special interest (unique, historically relevant, stuff like that). It means that they cannot be demolished or altered too much. Wikipedia has a good article about it, which also explains the grades: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listed_building
Also there are numerous outer London suburbs from the 1920s/30s with a mixture of Art Deco semis and mock Tudor (or "Stockbrokers Tudor"), especially in the "town centres".
![1 Hour of London Heavy Rain ☔️ Rain Walk Ambience [4K HDR]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/A0GyNQxTEjU/mqdefault.jpg)
![1 Hour of London Heavy Rain ☔️ Rain Walk Ambience [4K HDR]](/img/tr.png)
I always tell visitors that it’s where William Shakespeare lived when writing the plays wot he wrote for Queen Elizabeth l, I’ve never been contradicted...
I thought it was going to turn out to be a public lavatory... maybe the original after which the sport of "cottaging" was named? But I was wrong.
Certainly not a lavatory, that’s what the phone boxes are for
I didn't know about the sub-station bit but I had always assumed it was a shed for gardening tools. I couldn't think of anything else it could be as it obviously wasn't nearly as Ye Olde as it was cracking on to be.
One of the many things in Soho that I either urinated on, vomited on or, more likely, both at some point in my misspent youth. I am not proud of this fact I merely report it :-D
Same, honestly.
Plot twist: it's the cutest open toilet in London
Urinated on, I guess - with a name like hand cock.
@@millomweb Not my real name although some would say it's my hobby :-D
GeekSqueak . Pretty sure you’re not the only one 😉
Here in Baltimore Maryland USA, (famous for the war of 1812 and heroin capital of the country) the entire city is an open toilet, debatably more so the Essex/Dundalk area. (Fun fact, the water of Baltimore's Inner Harbor is mildly radioactive from years of wastewater from a now defunct chrome plating factory)
It was used as the exterior for a drinking club in an episode of Matt Berry's Channel 4 sitcom "Toast Of London".
Are the episodes on RUclips? When was the show aired?
@@TheDonSapius I watched it on DVD a few months ago, I'm afraid I don't remember which exact episode it was. I'll scan through them all when I get a moment,
@@TheDonSapius not sure if the last link is a direct to episodes on c4 or not but it is available on netflix (uk)
I approve of distinctive sheds.
I would love to have been at the design meeting
“Right lads, we are going to be housing a MODERN electrical device in a JACOBEAN square , just behind the statue of a JACOBEAN King, in Britain’s major CITY. Any idea what style is appropriate ? “
“I propose a Tudor Market Hall from a Market Town”
“ Righty ho, Wooster . Next item “
By definition, Charles II was not Jacobean. 😜
@@andrewgwilliam4831 also didn’t get to name a period after himself. The Carolingian period is not British.
@@francesconicoletti2547 The actual term is "Caroline".
@@andrewgwilliam4831 Sweet.
It fits in nicely with our British love of the garden shed.
I like the idea that it was originally built to conceal an electrical substation, thus retaining and even enhancing the historic feel of the square. Mock Tudor is often called Stockbrokers Tudor from its frequent appearance in 1930s outer London suburbs extending into Surrey, Middlesex, Berks, Bucks etc.
While I'm sure there are plenty of more interesting uses for a building like this, I think it's rather fitting that it's just a tool-shed.👍👌😁 Prime, prime site for so many things but no, it's a tool-shed - brilliant.
Early Disney's or very late Tudor-mock-up :) Such a short video and still, so much enjoyment while watching.
Thank you!
Mock Tudor ✅
Agreed!
It's what I always heard described as "Stockbroker's Tudor", very popular in outer London suburbs of the 1930s. The giveaway compared to real Tudor, as in the reconstructed buildings in places like Coventry, is that the wooden beams are (relatively) straight, not warped by the passage of time (The Shambles in York, numerous thatched cottages, etc.)
Like a mini version of the market hall in Faversham, Kent.
Maybe someone can put an MP3 player inside that randomly plays the TARDIS noise.
The Ticket booth on Leicester Square covers the ventilator duct from the huge electricity substation underneath it. Part of which was a WW2 Air Raid shelter - the entry of which was a doorway on the stairs leading down to the gent's toilets.
As far as garden sheds go, it's a very nice one.
I have passed that way for too many years to mention, but although I never knew anything about it, it never looked old or a serious building with a purpose, so I just ignored it. But this video is great, and now I will look at it with fresh eyes.
'early Disney' ha ha ha
From his Baloo period, perhaps.
Or maybe the early black & white days ?
Right, my new lockdown project is to make my garden shed look like that. I may not succeed. Thanks for this vid, I've wondered what that was ever since I first saw it (though suspected it was a fancy potting shed). Glad to know it's listed, thanks.
I used to eat my lunch in the square and watch the gardener lug the mower out of it. :D
A Very Small Air Raid Shelter indeed! 🤣
Garden sheds? The very backbone of Britain!
In Waltham Abbey, Essex a known pub called the Welsh Harp, originally a farmer house :) ;) ;) then someone had the idea to make it look like a mock Tudor pub next to the Waltham Abbey :) ;) ;) ;) ;)
I have walked through Soho square hundreds of times and past that very building, without ever giving a thought to what it is/was. How very sad on my part.
After shedding light on the cottage we discover it is in fact. A shed!
Thanks, always been curious of this hut’s real purpose.
damn fine garden shed though ;)
Ah,.. I always wondered what that little folly was all about !
Great little video, I'd never even thought about what that building was
My daughter's office is in Soho Sq. I shall link her to this video. Great stuff, Jago. :)
I finally capitulated and subscribed today. Keep up the great work
What's "capitulated" ?
With so much history in London, a tour guide could tell some tale of the building and is would be believable..........
I had a friend going to London 2 weeks before I was going to be there so we had a treasure hunt and this is where he hid a coin for me to find .
That's cool AF. I wish I could afford to travel...and had friends... (sigh)
@@TheDonSapius im not rich by any means but my wife is good at planning & finding good deals. For a trip 3 weeks with 3 countries flight & accommodation we pay $3000 & with something like air b&b its cheaper & great locations, for example in paris we stay right behind Notre Dame or up from the Eiffel Tower & down the street from the arch Arc de Triomphe .
One of the big money savers is to go with more people
@@TheDonSapius & London & paris are really safe , just watch for pick pockets . But that applies to where i live too.
Wouldn't mind having it a a garden shed at all.
The substation is remarked upon and briefly shown in the Look at Life film Under Your Feet (I think). Perhaps you already know it...
I didn’t, but thanks for the tip, I’ll check it out!
It's a great series
I found that film. Thank you for bringing it to my attention. It was pretty fascinating; and produced a whimsical nostalgia. Even though it's from before my time. I also like the circularity that it was produced by Rank; who of course were based in Wardour Street. Maybe that's how they kept their production budget so low; just film everyone within walking distance!
@@KravKernow Glad you found it and enjoyed it - take a look for other Look at Life films, I find them endlessly fascinating and charming.
They’re great for research. They cover so many obscure topics.
🎶Secret Tunnel!🎵
Thanks !!
Always wondered about this!
I've met the guy who works in it. He's a character.
They should turn it into a coffee shop
A scene of 84 Charing Cross Road with Anthony Hopkins was shot here
Often wonder what it's purpose was. Once again thanks
How do you know so much? Thank you.
nice shed
mate...
Thanks for another interesting video. Were any of the buildings in Soho Square damaged in WW2 bombing?
Succinctly brilliant 👏👏👍😀
Please explain, what does "Grade 2 Listed" mean?
Sorry, I'm American but fascinated and want to learn these things.
To add to that, is Soho an abbreviation of something, if so, what is it short for? I know we have a Soho in NewYork but I'm not even sure what that's short for, I live in Baltimore Maryland and don't have many opportunities to travel farther than Pennsylvania, Virginia or Washington DC.
NYC Soho was so named in 1962 by Chester Rapkin an urban planner (see link below) and refers to 'South of Houston' (Street) but was also a nod to the REAL Soho ;-) in London which may be so named (apparently) because it was used by the King in ye olde days as hunting grounds and 'So-ho!!!' was a hunting cry like 'Tally-ho' or whatever but I'm skeptical about this as it doesn't exactly roll of the tongue. www.nytimes.com/2001/02/03/nyregion/chester-rapkin-82-urban-planning-theorist.html
Listed buildings are of special interest (unique, historically relevant, stuff like that). It means that they cannot be demolished or altered too much. Wikipedia has a good article about it, which also explains the grades: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listed_building
@@Westlake72 There's a suburb of Birmingham with the name Soho, too. Not nearly as gentrified as it's London counterpart! 😉
@@SparkieGoth Although it also has less of a seedy reputation :)
Doesn’t everyone have a garden shed like that? Mine is a fine neo-Georgian... ummm
I smoked a spliff talking to the black bloke who sits in here all day, nice bloke
That was... anti-climatic. But very interesting. Thanks!
Those benches look good for being from 1661.
Trigger's broom. 😉
So where's the tour of the substation ?
Probably from someone more respectable than me.
SoHahahahaha!:-) Garden shed! Chortle. 🖖
you do make me laugh
Seriously you cant mention the secret entrance to buck palace and not do a video on it🤪
So, mock Tudor wasn't a rather trite 1980's detached house fad... came from the 1920's! Who knew? Well, seems you knew! 1920's mock tudor shed haha
Also there are numerous outer London suburbs from the 1920s/30s with a mixture of Art Deco semis and mock Tudor (or "Stockbrokers Tudor"), especially in the "town centres".
Cute!
Shed end
I dont understand when you say a building is grade one, two, three and so on, what that means.
historicengland.org.uk/advice/hpg/has/listed-buildings
One day some rich foreign investor will buy it. Khan wishes he could flog it now though to one of his chums.