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November 18, 2022

Speakers' Corner, London: "Happy Friday, you daft bastards.”

Since 1866, Speakers' Corner in London's Hyde Park (northeast corner near Marble Arch) has been important in Britain's demonstrations, protests and debate. In 1872, the area was specifically set aside for those purposes. Here are among the best and most eccentric daily shows in London. Marx, Lenin and Orwell all spoke at Speakers' Corner there on Sundays, the traditional speaking day. But most speakers you hear there are obscure, animated and marvelously quirky. Any subject is fair game. For the dark history of this area of Hyde Park as the execution place know as Tyburn Gallows for nearly six centuries--everyone condemned to die could make a final speech--see the website of the Royal Parks. Below: uncredited photo from a Sunday in 1930s.

speakers corner orators-at-hyde-park-corner-london-30s.jpeg

Posted by JD Hull at November 18, 2022 11:02 PM

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