Nestled in the midst of Oxleas Wood (one of London’s only ancient woodlands) is a strange sight. A seemingly ancient building, complete with turrets, ramparts, arrow slits and as of 2019, a coffee shop serving cake and ice cream.Read More →
We’ve all heard of King Alfred: the 9th century king who defeated the vikings and united the English. He’s a figure shrouded in mystery and romanticism and an important part of his story lies in wait in a hidden East Sussex village. Sort of.Read More →
Prior to the invention of refrigeration, fresh food would either have to be eaten immediately or preserved in a way that would impact its flavour. With the invention of the ice house (or ice well), the residents of Mari (an ancient city in modern-day Syria) came up with a solution to this way back in 1780 BC.Read More →
Odd Days Out have been to investigate how the ARP stretcher – which saved thousands of lives in the Blitz – went on to assist with the rebuilding of London after the war.Read More →
An ancient, candle-lit, cavern where sacred meals were consumed, animals sacrificed, and cultists put through brutal initiation ceremonies – all in the name of Mithras. Small temples or Mithraeums, can be found across the former Roman Empire, including in Londinium.Read More →
For nearly 90 years a single train left a dedicated station once a day, and travelled non-stop for 40 minutes until it reached its passengers’ final destination.
Welcome aboard the London Necropolis Railway.Read More →
Grain is at the end of the long Hoo Peninsula in north Kent and there is only one road in and out. It’s the last stop on the B2001; an eerie route lined with power stations and refineries. At night, these buildings are lit up, creating a strange vista, akin to something out of Blade Runner.Read More →
Visited by ODOmatt January 26th 2019 Located between Eastbourne and Brighton, the small industrial port town of Newhaven has its fair share of peculiar history, but none more so than an unlikely visitor in 1913… Yes, Ho Chi Minh once visited the salty shores of East Sussex. Before becoming the world’s most famous revolutionary leader, Ho Chi Minh worked as a pastry chef on the Newhaven-Dieppe ferry line. The town hit national headlines in 2013 when it announced controversial plans to commemorate the famous visitor with a small centennial commemoration stone. Thankfully for all Sussex-based Odd Day Outers, the stone got laid. Ho Chi Who? HoRead More →
The building was supposedly constructed by Benedictine Monks from the nearby Wilmington Priory in 1280. It continued to be used by the clergy until 1970 when it was sold into private ownership. It remains occupied to this day, so we ask other Odd Day Outer’s to be mindful not to disturb the occupants.Read More →
If London had an epicentre for oddness, it would surely be Trinity Buoy Wharf, situated at Bow Creek, the confluence of London’s River Lee and River Thames on the opposite bank to the 02 arena. Read More →