This ‘geeky thread’ about 20th century urban architecture is an unexpected delight
This turned into an unexpected treat, a rather lovely thread by Mark Wallace about the secret history of shops – well, one shop in particular – as he asked his followers what’s unusual about this nail bar in Kingston.
‘Geeky thread warning. Or, if you’re like me, a cool bit of 20th Century urban archaeology. Check out this shop in Kingston. What’s unusual about it (aside from its no-doubt-excellent nails service)?’
To be filed under ‘Well, I never did …’
1.
Geeky thread warning. Or, if you’re like me, a cool bit of 20th Century urban archaeology. Check out this shop in Kingston. What’s unusual about it (aside from its no-doubt-excellent nails service)? pic.twitter.com/MT3G9Yii9Z
— Mark Wallace (@wallaceme) March 27, 2019
2.
On its gable-end, the wall is double-thickness up to about 6 feet. Why? pic.twitter.com/w2Wg5p05rP
— Mark Wallace (@wallaceme) March 27, 2019
3.
On closer inspection, it’s a thick layer of concrete, either up against or cutting through the wall of the presumably brick building. This shop has been armoured… pic.twitter.com/QzfuN5glfv
— Mark Wallace (@wallaceme) March 27, 2019
4.
Even better, this concrete has two wide-angled loopholes in it. The right hand one has been completely filled in, the other left partially open for a handy security box cubby-hole. Armoured and loopholed – this is a fortified shop. A shop with a bunker built-in! pic.twitter.com/bsJB7w0sgc
— Mark Wallace (@wallaceme) March 27, 2019
5.
A south-facing, concrete fortification, near a major Thames crossing… This fortified shop is part of London’s WW2 invasion defence network, specifically part of London Stop Line Central (Line B). It was built in 1940 or 1941 to slow German tanks should the worst happen. pic.twitter.com/KNWrMAtI8Z
— Mark Wallace (@wallaceme) March 27, 2019
6.
It played its small part in history (and thank goodness it was never needed) but I love that it still survives, an otherwise unnoticed chunk of concrete lining an alleyway by a nail bar. You never know what’s around you until you look! pic.twitter.com/pbgqgElSp3
— Mark Wallace (@wallaceme) March 27, 2019
7.
There are *loads* of remnants of Britain’s defences that we never notice – some are destroyed unwittingly every year. There’s a searchable database to find those near you here: https://t.co/x4t1W7sDWO
— Mark Wallace (@wallaceme) March 27, 2019
And a few of the comments it prompted.
Fascinating. Bromley is like some kind of Maginot Line!
— Hans van Leeuwen (@hansvan333) March 27, 2019
Thanks – yes, all part of the same multilayered network of defence in depth. There were some spots (incl Shooter’s Hill IIRC) rigged wth huge petrol tanks underground to flood petrol down the hill then set advancing columns alight!
— Mark Wallace (@wallaceme) March 27, 2019
Sometimes I think I spend too much time on social media then things like this pop up and make it all worthwhile. https://t.co/KOrgVe15Zo
— Betsy-Jane Lawton (@BnotBea) March 27, 2019
File under: When Britain Knew How to Prepare For Things Properly.
— Hans van Leeuwen (@hansvan333) March 27, 2019
A bit, though amazingly these defences were flung together in a remarkable rush after things had kicked off! Sounds a bit familiar.
— Mark Wallace (@wallaceme) March 27, 2019
Delightful urban history thread https://t.co/KEtPJ1EqAL
— Ant Breach (@AntBreach) March 27, 2019
I read the later tweets about the WW2 defence fortifications. Fascinating stuff. Mind you it used to be like a war-zone outside there anyway every night at 2am when people would come out of the night club.
— Steven Coventry (@Steven_Coventry) March 27, 2019
This is brilliant. https://t.co/UAEc6JMcx8
— Dave Rich (@daverich1) March 27, 2019
Very cool bit of history. Thanks for sharing this!
— Jerry K (@JerryK440) March 27, 2019
I’m glad people find it as interesting as I do!
— Mark Wallace (@wallaceme) March 27, 2019
.well, check out the car park of my local garden centre on Freshwater village on the Isle of Wight! It must be one of the best -defended car parks in the country (was a railway station during WWII) pic.twitter.com/O4xK2pc2V0
— Chris Whitehouse (@CllrWhitehouse) March 27, 2019