Berners Street hoax, caricatureTheodore Hook, perpetrator of the hoax, circa 1810
The Berners Street hoax was perpetrated by Theodore Hook in Westminster, London, England, in 1810.[1][2] Hook had made a bet with his friend Samuel Beazley that he could transform any house in London into the most talked-about address in a week, which he achieved by sending out thousands of letters in the name of Mrs Tottenham, who lived at 54 Berners Street, requesting deliveries, visitors and assistance.[3]
On 27 November,[4] at five o'clock in the morning, a sweep arrived to sweep the chimneys of Mrs Tottenham's house. The maid who answered the door informed him that no sweep had been requested, and that his services were not required. A few moments later, another sweep presented himself, then another, and another; twelve in all. After the last of the sweeps had been sent away, a fleet of carts carrying large deliveries of coal began to arrive, followed by a series of cakemakers delivering large wedding cakes, then doctors, lawyers, vicars and priests summoned to minister to someone in the house they had been told was dying. Fishmongers, shoemakers and over a dozen pianos were among the next to appear, along with "six stout men bearing an organ". Dignitaries, including the Governor of the Bank of England, the Duke of York, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Lord Mayor of London, also arrived. The narrow streets soon became severely congested with tradesmen and onlookers. Deliveries and visits continued until the early evening, bringing a large part of London to a standstill.[5]
Every Officer that could be mustered was enlisted to disperse the people, and they were placed at the corners of Berners Street to prevent trades people from advancing towards the house with goods. The street was not cleared at a late hour, as servants of every denomination wanting places began to assemble at five o'clock. It turned out that letters had been written to the different trades people, which stated recommendations from persons of quality. A reward has been offered for the apprehension of the author of the criminal hoax.[4]
Hook stationed himself in the house directly opposite 54 Berners Street, from where he and his friend spent the day watching the chaos unfold.[5]
Despite a "fervent hue and cry" to find the perpetrator, Hook managed to evade detection, although many of those who knew him suspected him of being responsible. It was reported that he felt it prudent to be "laid up for a week or two" before embarking on a tour of the country, supposedly to convalesce.[6]
After all was said and done, Hook won his one-guinea bet (£87 in 2021 terms).[7][8]
The site at 54 Berners Street is now occupied by the Sanderson Hotel.
^"The Famous Berners Street Hoax". www.shadyoldlady.com. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
^"£1.05 in 1809 → 2021 | UK Inflation Calculator". www.in2013dollars.com. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
Bibliography
Barham, Richard Harris Dalton (1852), The life and remains of Theodore Edward Hook, Volume 1, R. Bentley
Chambers, Robert (1832), The book of days: a miscellany of popular antiquities in connection with the calendar, including anecdote, biography, & history, curiosities of literature and oddities of human life and character, Volume 2, W. & R. Chambers
Lockhart, John Gibson (1852), Theodore Hook, a sketch, John Murray
Pollard, Justin (2009), Secret Britain: The Hidden Bits of Our History, John Murray, ISBN978-1-84854-198-6
Timbs, John (1862), Lives of Wits and Humourists: R. Brinsley Sheridan. Richard Porson. Rev. Sydney Smith. Theodore Hook. James and Horace Smith, R. Bentley
External linksedit
Museum of hoaxes article on the Berners Street hoax (States street number as 10 and the year as 1810)
London in the Nineteenth Century, The Guardian (London)
April 11, 2024
berners, street, hoax, 5176, 1372, 5176, 1372, caricaturetheodore, hook, perpetrator, hoax, circa, 1810the, perpetrated, theodore, hook, westminster, london, england, 1810, hook, made, with, friend, samuel, beazley, that, could, transform, house, london, into,. 51 31 03 N 0 08 14 W 51 5176 N 0 1372 W 51 5176 0 1372 Berners Street hoax caricatureTheodore Hook perpetrator of the hoax circa 1810The Berners Street hoax was perpetrated by Theodore Hook in Westminster London England in 1810 1 2 Hook had made a bet with his friend Samuel Beazley that he could transform any house in London into the most talked about address in a week which he achieved by sending out thousands of letters in the name of Mrs Tottenham who lived at 54 Berners Street requesting deliveries visitors and assistance 3 Contents 1 History 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksHistory editOn 27 November 4 at five o clock in the morning a sweep arrived to sweep the chimneys of Mrs Tottenham s house The maid who answered the door informed him that no sweep had been requested and that his services were not required A few moments later another sweep presented himself then another and another twelve in all After the last of the sweeps had been sent away a fleet of carts carrying large deliveries of coal began to arrive followed by a series of cakemakers delivering large wedding cakes then doctors lawyers vicars and priests summoned to minister to someone in the house they had been told was dying Fishmongers shoemakers and over a dozen pianos were among the next to appear along with six stout men bearing an organ Dignitaries including the Governor of the Bank of England the Duke of York the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Lord Mayor of London also arrived The narrow streets soon became severely congested with tradesmen and onlookers Deliveries and visits continued until the early evening bringing a large part of London to a standstill 5 Every Officer that could be mustered was enlisted to disperse the people and they were placed at the corners of Berners Street to prevent trades people from advancing towards the house with goods The street was not cleared at a late hour as servants of every denomination wanting places began to assemble at five o clock It turned out that letters had been written to the different trades people which stated recommendations from persons of quality A reward has been offered for the apprehension of the author of the criminal hoax 4 Hook stationed himself in the house directly opposite 54 Berners Street from where he and his friend spent the day watching the chaos unfold 5 Despite a fervent hue and cry to find the perpetrator Hook managed to evade detection although many of those who knew him suspected him of being responsible It was reported that he felt it prudent to be laid up for a week or two before embarking on a tour of the country supposedly to convalesce 6 After all was said and done Hook won his one guinea bet 87 in 2021 terms 7 8 The site at 54 Berners Street is now occupied by the Sanderson Hotel See also editList of practical joke topicsReferences editNotes Chambers 1832 pp 260 Barham 1852 pp 72 77 Lockhart 1852 pp 16 18 a b Most extraordinary scene Berners Street in an uproar Morning Post 28 November 1810 p 3 via Newspapers com a b Pollard 2009 pp 3 5 Timbs 1862 p 299 The Famous Berners Street Hoax www shadyoldlady com Retrieved 26 September 2021 1 05 in 1809 2021 UK Inflation Calculator www in2013dollars com Retrieved 26 September 2021 Bibliography Barham Richard Harris Dalton 1852 The life and remains of Theodore Edward Hook Volume 1 R Bentley Chambers Robert 1832 The book of days a miscellany of popular antiquities in connection with the calendar including anecdote biography amp history curiosities of literature and oddities of human life and character Volume 2 W amp R Chambers Lockhart John Gibson 1852 Theodore Hook a sketch John Murray Pollard Justin 2009 Secret Britain The Hidden Bits of Our History John Murray ISBN 978 1 84854 198 6 Timbs John 1862 Lives of Wits and Humourists R Brinsley Sheridan Richard Porson Rev Sydney Smith Theodore Hook James and Horace Smith R BentleyExternal links editMuseum of hoaxes article on the Berners Street hoax States street number as 10 and the year as 1810 London in the Nineteenth Century The Guardian London Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Berners Street hoax amp oldid 1214604990, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
