Sussex Transport often makes unusual deliveries; from totem poles, cathedral spires and giant bugs to thousands of glasses or bundles of sticks for a human beaver dam…! (refer to previous blogs)
This month we were asked to deliver some London Tube station signs to America for a customer.
Piccadilly Circus and Notting Hill Gate will be shipped by our freight department to the states following a successful bid on eBay!
Was there an actual circus in Piccadilly? No! Piccadilly Circus is a road junction and public space of London’s West End in the City of Westminster, built in 1819 to connect Regent Street with the major shopping street of Piccadilly. In this context, a circus, from the Latin word meaning “circle”, is a round open space at a street junction.
The Circus is particularly known for its video display and neon signs mounted on the corner building on the northern side, as well as the Shaftesbury memorial fountain and statue of an archer popularly known as Eros
The phrase it’s like Piccadilly Circus is commonly used in the UK to refer to a place or situation which is extremely busy with people. Probably because of this connection, during World War II, “Piccadilly Circus” was the code name given to the Allies’ D-Day invasion fleet’s assembly location in the English Channel.
Was there ever a gate at Notting Hill Gate? YES!! Historically the street was a location for toll gates, from which it derives its modern name.
Work at Notting Hill tube station has recently uncovered amazing advertising posters in non-public areas and that date from c1956 – 1959 when the station’s lifts were removed and replaced by escalators. These are in an old lift passageway and were a fascintating find for the workmen a few years ago.
You can view the posters HERE thanks to London Underground. The passageway has now been re-sealed – along with the posters…
For a historically reliable haulage service, please call us on 01903 751100 or email sales@sussextransport.com We’d love to hear from you!
