Someone Had One Job: From Incorrect Signs to Heavy Metal Errors

London is packed with subtle quirks and mistakes that most people pass by without a second glance. From historic plaques and public art installations to hand-painted pub signs, errors are hidden all over the city if you know where to look.

Here are four notable mistakes hiding in plain sight:

Prospect of Whitby (Wapping Wall, E1W)

Dating back to 1520, the Prospect of Whitby initially opened as "The Pelican" before becoming "The Devil's Tavern" and eventually adopting its current name in the 18th century. Over the centuries, the pub has hosted smugglers, pirates, judges, boxers, royalty, and Hollywood stars. According to a handwritten sign in the upstairs bar, past patrons include Richard Burton, Kirk Douglas, Frank Sinatra, Paul Newman, Judy Garland, Muhammad Ali, Princess Margaret, and "Rob Steiger."

While actor Rod Steiger won an Oscar for 'In the Heat of the Night' and starred in 'Waterloo', 

history has no record of a famous "Rob."

Shadows of Whitechapel: Annie Chapman, Resilience on Hanbury Street

Annie Chapman © public domain

Everyone knows the terror that ripped through the East End, in 1888, but many forget the victims and who they were: Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes, and Mary Jane Kelly. Each of these women was a living, breathing person with a unique history and story.

Here I have tried to piece together the lives of the women who would go on to become known as 'The Canonical Five', resulting in a small glimpse into their lives. There is much that I have left out, but what I believe to be the important pieces of their lives are here.

Obviously, with census records, online records, books, newspaper articles, archives and much more, there are discrepancies and contradictory accounts, resulting in confusing timelines.

So, where there has been contradictory information, I have left that out, or bracketed the information, so that I could create the most accurate account of their lives.

If you do spot an error, please do get in contact.

Annie Chapman (born Eliza Ann Smith; September 25, 1840 – September 8, 1888)

A Soldier’s Family and the Barracks Screen

George Smith was a trooper in the 2nd Queen's Life Guard, proudly riding in the grand parade on Queen Victoria's wedding day. Nearby in London, Ruth Chapman found employment as a housemaid. Though their initial meeting is lost to history, the two were soon courting. Facing rigid societal hurdles and meagre wages, Ruth gave birth to their first child, Annie Eliza Smith, in September 1840.

Under the strict social codes of the era, an unmarried pregnancy meant immediate dismissal, leaving Ruth entirely dependent on whatever financial handouts George could spare from his military pay. Because George was required to live in barracks, the relationship was heavily strained; yet just months after Annie's birth, Ruth was pregnant again. George sought permission to marry, and on Sunday, February 20, 1842, the couple finally wed. To legitimise the children and protect the regiment's reputation, the wedding date was officially backdated by two years to 1840 on George's military records.

With no separate quarters allocated for married men, Ruth moved into the communal cavalry barracks, settling for a small, screened-off corner of a shared room. In this cramped space, she raised her babies and slept, all while enduring the raucous environment of off-duty soldiers.

London Through Their Eyes: A Family Adventure!

There is something magical about seeing London through the eyes of your children. 

Over the years, Erin and Keilyn have become quite the little explorers! Even Alysha, when she was their age, enjoyed visiting the sights. We have spent days checking off the 'big ones', like Buckingham Palace, The Mall and Horse Guards Parade, to the world famous museums, and some of the lesser known ones, too.

Walking with Keilyn: Liverpool Street to Wapping... and beyond

Saturday September 5, 2026.

Sunny 24°C (75.2°F)

As Keilyn and I had tickets to an event, in the afternoon, we decided that we would make a day of it.

We walked to Watford underground station and boarded a Baker Street train, which we took to Finchley Road. Here we changed to an Aldgate-bound train to Liverpool Street station.

On leaving the station we headed along Bishopsgate to Leadenhall Street and then Whittington Avenue, where we visited the Terrace at One Leadenhall. I had visited here on the previous Monday, but, due to a glitch with my phone, I had lost many of my photos and videos from the viewing terrace. Hence my second visit. We were greeted by the concierge and headed into a waiting lift. 

When the lift doors opened we were greeted by the sight of the Fenchurch Building (The Walkie-Talkie). Next to it, and looking remarkably small from this perspective, is The Shard. Although the viewing terrace is only on the fourth floor, and only on the south side of One Leadenhall, it does over an amazing view. Again, like my previous visit, the entire terrace was empty, with the exception of a lone security guard.

Fact or Fiction: London's Urban Myths, part 2

The Coco Chanel logo is embossed on Westminster's Lampposts.

If you wander around the City of Westminster you may have spotted lampposts with an embossed logo that looks remarkably like the Chanel logo.

The French fashion designer Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel had a love affair with Hugh Grosvenor, the 2nd Duke of Westminster, for a decade-or-so in the 1920s-1930s. To prove his love for her he had her initials embossed in gold on lampposts, all around Westminster, along with a stylised 'W' which represented the Duke of Westminster.

So, is this true? 

Well, no. The lampposts weren't installed until the 1950s, and while the 'W' does indeed stand for Westminster, the 'CC' stands for County Council.

There are no flowers in Green Park because of a cheating King.

Green Park was established in the 17th century during the reign of King Charles II and, unlike the rest of the Royal Parks, has no formal flower beds. In fact it consists of grass, trees, paths and the odd monument. But it was very different when it was created. 

Walking alone: Aldgate to St James's Palace... and beyond

Monday August 31, 2026.

Sunny with cloudy spells 24°C (75.2°F)

The last Bank Holiday saw me take on a solo walk, which wasn't set in stone until I was aboard the train.

A Baker Street-bound train from Watford took me to Finchley Road, where I finally decided on a route. So, a few minutes later I boarded an Aldgate-bound train, deciding to start on the eastern edge of the City of London and head towards the West End.

On leaving Aldgate station I headed along Aldgate High Street, before moving onto Leadenhall Street and then Whittington Avenue. After a wander around Leadenhall Market, where I saw the new Leadenhall Wunderkammer at No. 27¼, which opens on Thursday September 3 and runs until December. It consists if the City’s smallest serving window, a miniature wool boutique and a mouse-sized video shop.

Shadows of Whitechapel: Mary Ann "Polly" Nichols, Shadows on the Cobblestones

Mary Ann "Polly" Nichols.

Everyone knows the terror that ripped through the East End, in 1888, but many forget the victims and who they were: Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes, and Mary Jane Kelly. Each of these women was a living, breathing person with a unique history and story.

Here I have tried to piece together the lives of the women who would go on to become known as 'The Canonical Five', resulting in a small glimpse into their lives. There is much that I have left out, but what I believe to be the important pieces of their lives are here.

Obviously, with census records, online records, books, newspaper articles, archives and much more, there are discrepancies and contradictory accounts, resulting in confusing timelines.

So, where there has been contradictory information, I have left that out, or bracketed the information, so that I could create the most accurate account of their lives.

If you do spot an error, please do get in contact.

Mary Ann Nichols (born Mary Ann Walker; August 26, 1845 – August 31, 1888)

Early Life in the Fleet Street Slums

On Tuesday, August 26, 1845, Mary Ann Walker was born to Caroline Walker. She drew her first breath in a cramped room within Dawes Court, a dilapidated, 200-year-old tenement on Gunpowder Alley, near Shoe Lane. Newspapers of the day described the weather as "fine and dry." Her father, Edward, was a blacksmith who had crossed south of the River Thames to find work near Fleet Street.

Driven by fluctuating costs and wages, the Walker family moved frequently, cycling through Dean Street, Robinhood Court, and Harp Alley, never far from High Holborn.

Tragedy struck early. On Thursday, November 25, 1852, Caroline Walker succumbed to tuberculosis, a disease bred by the horrendous, overcrowded conditions of the slums. In April 1854, Mary Ann’s youngest sibling, Frederick, died of the same affliction. He was buried alongside his mother at St Andrew’s Church in Holborn.