In this episode, of Danny Hurst´s Unusual Histories Bridge Series, he reaches Chelsea Bridge which has a longer history than you might expect. He explains why it was opened by the Canadian PM instead of a British dignitary, its connection to biker culture, the Chelsea Pensioners, The Sex Pistols, Sloane Rangers, the 1st official football match and the awful Glasgow smile injury.

Danny also covers the gentrification of Chelsea, its counterculture scene, and the King´s Road.

If you can´t get enough of these podcasts, head to https://www.patreon.com/DannyHurst to access my exclusive, member-only, fun-filled, and fact-packed history-related videos.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The bridge was originally called the Victoria Bridge. But its shoddy design meant that it had to be quickly renamed.
• The current version of the bridge is the only self-supporting suspension bridge in London.
• Unusually, it is the roadway that absorbs the stress, not the suspension cables.
• It was built with the help of the tide.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Resulted in one of the Essex Nomads being shot dead and 20 bikers being locked up. ´

‘Londoners objected to having to pay for fresh air.’

‘Chelsea fans were outraged that the bridge had been painted in Arsenal’s colours.’

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, and the other numerous sides of every story.

Danny continues his Unusual Histories podcast with the Bridge Series, remaining in London travelling east to west to look at the bridges which span the Thames. He looks at their design, construction and history, along with the history of the areas in which they're located on both sides of the river. This series kicks off with an exclusive interview with Dirk Bennett of the City Bridge Foundation, the organisation which looks after London's bridges. Tower Bridge is marking its 130th anniversary this month and Dirk talks to Danny about the history of the bridge as well as the new exhibition that is opening for it.

If you love history; or indeed if you hate history, this is the podcast for you…