Groucho's Fact Hunt

[Bluesaint]

around 1200 years ago, in an area that is now North West London, a local chap named Wemba decided to clear a rocky, wooded area so that he could cultivate the land. In time this clearing, a Lea in old English, became an established settlement with mud huts and stables for live stock and went on to thrive, though its eventual demise came about after many years, leading to the question of what did become of Wemba’s Lea?

 

[Kurt.]

around 1200 years ago, in an area that is now North West London, a local chap named Wemba decided to clear a rocky, wooded area so that he could cultivate the land. In time this clearing, a Lea in old English, became an established settlement with mud huts and stables for live stock and went on to thrive, though its eventual demise came about after many years, leading to the question of what did become of Wemba’s Lea?

Rumour is they still put crap on the ground there every few months

 

[summerisle]

All you ever wanted to know about North Korean football, but were afraid to ask.

 

[Kurt.]

If spurs get relegated I will laugh …. That’s a fact

 

[Bluesaint]

Rumour is they still put crap on the ground there every few months

Unless the mighty Everton play there. Which isn’t that frequent nowadays.

 

[Eggs]

 

[kev]

"Singing the blues" has been sung by Sheffield Wednesday fans since the 1970s.
Terry Curran (once of this parish) actually recorded and released the song as a single in 1980 while playing for Wednesday, two years before he signed Everton, initially on loan.

 

[Groucho]

 

[b-rad]

Wow. 60 years of hurt.

 

[Groucho]

Wow. 60 years of hurt.

I’m not arsed btw, Everton first for me.

Internationals, I’m behind all home nations and Ireland. Anything else would be hypocritical of me (and 90% of scousers).

 

[blueted]

I’m not arsed btw, Everton first for me.

Internationals, I’m behind all home nations and Ireland. Anything else would be hypocritical of me (and 90% of scousers).

I remember a thread on here about would you rather Everton win the League or England win the World Cup. Everyone said Everton for the league, unsurprisingly, but the best comment was someone who said he would rather Everton win a throw-in than England win the World Cup.

 

[Eggs]

 

[Eggs]

The statue of William Huskisson at Duke's Terrace isn’t just a tribute — it’s a story of power, tragedy, and controversy.

Huskisson, a leading 19th-century politician and MP for Liverpool, is remembered for a dramatic and tragic first: he became the world’s first widely reported railway fatality, struck by Stephenson's Rocket during the opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway in 1830.

Sculpted by John Gibson, the statue portrays him as a Roman senator — toga, scroll, and all — reflecting the classical style used to elevate political figures of the era.

But its history hasn’t been smooth…

Originally unveiled in 1847, the statue has been moved several times. In 1982, during unrest in Toxteth, it was dramatically pulled down due to Huskisson’s links to policies that supported slave-owning interests.

After restoration, it found a new home in 2005 — quietly standing today at Duke’s Terrace.

There are also two other versions: A marble original in the Walker Art Gallery

Another in London’s Pimlico Gardens

A statue that reflects not just a man — but the changing values of the city around it.

 

[Username.]

Only found our yesterday that the black stripe on a lollipop mans/women's stick is to write down registration plate numbers of drives that don't stop or break rules.

 

[John from Bootle]

At first, time was passed on to the town by dropping a time-ball at one.

Been there, done that. Never again.