Boston Place Beatles

The opening scene of the Beatles very first film A Hard Day’s Night was shot at Marylebone Station in London.   John, Paul, George and Ringo, running from fans, come charging down Boston Place, they then run under the elaborate iron and glass canopy, the “porte-cochere”, and into the station. Marylebone was doubling as Liverpool Lime Street.

After an eventful train journey, the lads arrive at Marylebone! This time doubling as Paddington! They dash into black cabs and the story begins.

I am not sure even the Beatles would be allowed to close the station now for filming. Over 11.5 million people travel through the station each year.

Girls' School in a Pub

This must be the only school that has incorporated (and preserved) a former pub in its premises!

The Gloucester Arms, built in 1815, stands on the corner of Gloucester Place and Ivor Place in Marylebone, London and is now part of  the Francis Holland School for Girls. The motto of the school is “That our daughter’s may be as the polished corners of the temple"

The school has produced several high profile women but perhaps none is more famous than Joan Collins who was a pupil here.

Of course Joan Collins barely needs an introduction but in case we need reminding let me quote from her personal website.

“Joan Collins, O.B.E., possesses a star quality that has come to define what it means to be a living legend. As an accomplished actor, author, producer, and entrepreneur, Joan Collins has built a career that places her in the unrivalled ranks of an international icon.”

A well polished corner then.

Icon Born in a London Stable

This plaque commemorates the fact that the first  Bentley car was built  here in a garage converted from a mews stable at Number 48 Chagford Street, Marylebone, London. 

It is a private plaque, businesses are not generally recognised under the "official" English Heritage scheme .

Bentley has become a byword for luxury, “extraordinary speed, exquisitely handcrafted and beautifully engineered” cars, but these are unlikely surroundings.

Before World War I W.O. Bentley was a successful competitive motorcyclist. During the war he made aircraft engines for the newly formed RAF. In 1919, with the war over ”W.O.” turned his attention to the dream of building a car that would satisfy his own “extraordinarily high expectations as a driver, as an engineer, as a competitor and as a gentleman”. He wanted  “A fast car, a good car, the best in its class.”

In October 1919 at his service shop in Chagford Street, he fired up the very first Bentley engine, the enormous, by the standards of the day, Bentley  3-litre.

He now just needed to build a car around it. In those days car makers just produced the chassis and engine, it was up to the customer to employ a coach maker to finish the vehicle. Rich purchasers also bought the very best coachwork.

A reviewer wrote “For the man who wants a true sporting type of light-bodied car for use on a Continental tour, the three-litre Bentley is undoubtedly the car par excellence.”.

After five Le Mans victories, the car became an icon of the motor industry and it all started here in Chagford Street.

The Real Pongo Lived Here Too!

2011 is the 40th anniversary of the release of  Disney's animated 101 Dalmatians.

Dodie Smith, author of the original book, One Hundred and One Dalmatians lived here at Number 19, Dorset Square London. This is the private plaque provided by St Marylebone Society, a local history and conservation organisation.

Her flat at number 19 was decorated in fashionable monochrome with white carpets and black curtains, she joked ‘All I need now is a Dalmatian.’ . Her husband was wondering what to buy her as a birthday present and was inspired by this remark to purchase "Pongo" for her 38th birthday.

Later a friend, admiring Pongo's fine fur, remarked that ‘He would make a nice fur coat,’ and Dodie had her inspiration.

As we celebrate the film, let's not forget the charms of the original book. The book really concentrates on  dog behaviour and psychology and is very wittily written to appeal to parents as much as to children and of course in the book, Pongo is never married to Perdita, his constant companion is Missis! A quick read and an amusing one.