O/T Fun "Facts" about your home town.

[thetank]

I went to see my Grandad up in Aberdeen at the weekend. He's always a good fountain for useless, and often wholly innacurate, information.

He told me why Union Street (in Aberdeen city centre) is one of Britain's widest main streets.

According to Pops, the markings for it's dimensions were laid out by the engineers prior to its construction. However, before building commenced, students from the local University moved them all one night for a laff.

It's a nice story, however I doubt it's actually true.

The street is a mile long, it's construction required the levelling of a hill, a granite bridge with an arc of 130 feet to cross a valley, and at least half a mile of it supported on arches (there are streets n stuff below it.) Built at the beggining of the 19th century (the 1800s) it was one of the engineering feats of it's time. I find it hard to believe the building of such a wonder, costing more money than the millenium dome, could be significantly altered by a bunch of drunken students.


Anyone got any stories about from whence they came that you won't find in any books? (probably coz they're bollox)

Sod it, maybe you can find them in books, so long as you find them interesting, post away.

[Ironside]

He told me why Union Street (in Aberdeen city centre) is one of Britain's widest main streets.

According to Pops, the markings for it's dimensions were laid out by the engineers prior to its construction. However, before building commenced, students from the local University moved them all one night for a laff.

It's a nice story, however I doubt it's actually true.

its true tikay gave them a helping hand

[Newmanseye]

There is the old fable about the Glasgow art gallery, which is "apparently" built back to front and as legend goes the original designer killed himself after seeing the finished building.

Load of old tripe in my opinion.

[matt674]

Droylsden, the part of Manchester where i'm from is famous as being the place where Robertsons jam originates (and is still the only place where it is made). However since they had to get rid of their trademark gollywog in case it offended anyone the factory just looks like any other

The gollywog badges are still sought after collecters items though........... (apparently  )

[Rooky9]

I believe Stockton on Tees is home to the Widest highstreet.

It is also where the first railway line was built and run by George Stephenson's (who was a Geordie and lived at Close house where Newcastle uni now have their sports ground) Locomotion, then replaced by the rocket on the line to Darlington.

Stockton on tees is also home to Ingleby Barwick which had consistantly been the fast growing private housing estate in europe since it was created in the late 1980's

[Tinsel Town]

I stay in Cambuslang on the outskirts of Glasgow.

It is officially the biggest village in Scotland!!

Also, Jock Stein worked as a miner in a pit (now closed of course)
the remains of which are somewhere under my house!!


 

[Sark79]

Kilmarnock. Famous for the Killie Pie.  It won the award for the best maker of pies a few years back.

[yt]

- Harlow has double the national average on the rock and roll.

- Single mums beg in the streets.

- Refugees actually flee Harlow back to Afganistan.


Only one of the above statement is true. And one might be true although they are more likely to selll sex rather than beg. The other is false. Refugees seem to LOVE Harlow.

[TightEnd]

I live in Flitwick. There isn't an interesting fact about Flitwick . Rowling named a Harry Potter character Flitwick, but I'm not sure it was because of her love of Mid Bedfordshire commuter towns

To substitute, here's two things about Bedford, just up the road where my kids live.

During the Second World War, Bedford was host to the BBC Music Department, broadcasting from “somewhere in England”

In 1944, Glen Miller was stationed at Clapham on the outskirts of Bedford from where he made his last known flight whilst travelling to France

[whufc65]

I live in Mitcham Surrey home of the worlds oldest cricket green, Lord Nelson & Lady hamilton used to go and watch cricket here...

[ACE2M]

when i worked at woolworths in stoke on trent in my youth one of my colleagues was the aunt of slash from guns and roses, who hails from these parts.

[mjrevie]

There is the old fable about the Glasgow art gallery, which is "apparently" built back to front and as legend goes the original designer killed himself after seeing the finished building.

Load of old tripe in my opinion.

Dont know about him killing himself, but its true the kelvingrove art gallery is back to front.

[Poppet7]

A place called Fordwich about 2 miles from my house is the smallest town in britain... It's like a teeny weeny village but it's actually a town? 

[NoflopsHomer]

Stafford was voted 7th most boring town in Britain in 1997. I find that in itself fairly boring, if it was the MOST boring town in Britain, that would be interesting and therefore it would stop being the most boring town around, but 7th? That's neither here nor there.

[thetank]

Do you know what the most boring town was?