We’ve been road-testing – or perhaps
pavement-testing would be more accurate. Here’s LW guide Robert……
The first simple pedometer belonged to
Isambard Kingdom Brunel, engineer on the Great Western Railway. Brunel was a
small man but he paced the line from Bristol to London Paddington, his
magnificent cathedral in glass (notice the three spans and transept). Brunel
built broad gauge and carried a special walking cane, which unfolded to exactly
7 feet 0¼ inch, the distance between his railway lines. Today standard gauge is
only 4 feet 8 ¾ inches. Everyone should have a pedometer, but remember it’s not
just the number of steps, it’s the size of the steps – ask anyone with short
legs!
By the way, Harry Potter leaves for
Hogwarts from Kings Cross Station, Platform 9 ¾ (presumably 4ft 9 ¾?) but he
comes back from the dead via broad gauge! Look carefully at the buttresses and
you’ll see the celestial railway station is Paddington. Presumably that’s
Platform 0 ¼? (or 7 ft 0 ¼ to be precise).
Visit Brunel sites in London 10.45am every
Thursday and Saturday from Embankment tube. Bring a cane and check the
distances.
Robert
Robert is allowed to drive sheep across
London Bridge. An Oxford graduate, he's an actor, museum director, author and
holder of the Freedom. Let alone the first person since Brunel to organise an
underwater fair.
Step Counters Elsewhere on The Daily Constitutional…
A Frankenstein's Monster of a Walk
Soho Step Count
LW Guide Kim on Step Counters
Stepping Out In Kensington
London Walkers In Hampstead Recommend the FitBit
To join a London Walk, simply meet your guide at the designated tube station at the appointed time. Details of all London Walks can be found at www.walks.com.
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