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Thursday 23 February 2012

London Monopoly (6): Pentonville Road


Pentonville Road is number six in my series working around the 'London' version of the monopoly board.
Top of 210 Pentonville Road
Pentonville is a small local area of north London. The name is most famous for it's prison which is actually in Caledonian Road, a little to the north in Barnsbury. Pentonville Road links Euston to The Angel at Upper Street.
It is named after Henry Penton who developed many local streets in the eighteenth century when it was largely open countryside. Since 1965 it has been part of the London Borough of Islington. 
The philosopher, John Stuart Mill was born there in 1806 and in Dickens's Oliver Twist the kindly old book-seller lived there. (But in the film Oliver they moved him to the more fashionable Bloomsbury. Pentonville Road is only in the 'Blue' set in Monopoly.) 
Apparently Lenin lived there in 1902 and that's where he first met Trotsky.
The photograph above shows 210 Pentonville Road, a new building that recycled much of the material from the former property, known as Webb House, on the site and is entirely lit by roof-mounted solar panels.
In the distance, looking towards Euston Road, you can see King's Cross Railway Station.

11 comments:

klahanie said...

Hey bazza,
Finally, my friend, you have noted a part of London I'm not that familiar with. However, I do appreciate what interesting info you have submitted. I should be more familiar with this area for my brother briefly lived in the Islington area and I made a very brief visit to his Islington home.
Cheers, Gary

bazza said...

Hi Gary: I would have mentioned your brother but I didn't know he existed!

Anonymous said...

The rather fabulous Sir Tom Eagerly says:
Ah, Pentonville Prison! That takes me back. Er, I had some friends who lived there. The scandal definitely did not in involve Sir Tom. Outrageous suggestion sir.
Cheers Bazza!

bazza said...

Sir Tom: Well, I am sure we are all glad that you got away with it. Whatever is was!

John said...

I always learn something new from you Bazza! I had no idea that the prison wasn`t on Pentonville! That says something about me, doesn`t it!
J
Follow me at HEDGELAND TALES

bazza said...

Hi John: Well it does say that you are unfamiliar with Pentonville Prison - unlike Sir Tom, above! That can't be a bad thing.

David said...

Dear bazza,
Another place on the Monopoly board that I knew little about. From the picture, though, it looks like a fine place.
I wonder if they'll ever make a Monopoly board based on Stoke-on-Trent. Mmmm, maybe not!
Thanks, bazza.
Very Best Wishes,
David.

THE SNEE said...

Hi Bazza,

Did I ever mention that my son collects Monopoly boards? Well, actually Monopoly games. Your series has given me a real hankering for the British version. I suppose that I could order one online, but it's so much more fun to get something when I visit.

bazza said...

Hi David: Well why not design a Stoke version? I found a website (http://jergames.blogspot.com/2006/02/monopoly-versions.html) that lists over 2000 versions! Stoke must be in the top 2000 locales on the planet. Possibly.

bazza said...

Hi Rebecca: Not sure if you mentioned your son's collection (but see my previous answer to David). I am sure you could get a London version easily enough (eBay?).
Then you would have advance notice of my forthcoming posts!
Next in thie series is Whitehall where lots of ministries and Downing Street are located. Watch this space.

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