The Berners Street Hoax - Olya Bilyk (LX

The Berners Street Hoax

Olya Bilyk (LX) recounts the story of an elaborate prank from early 19th century London

Presumably, everyone in their life has somehow made fun of a friend, parent or even a stranger. Jokes can be both harmless and cruel, or maybe even insane. But few people know about a unique case that went down in the history of 19th century London, at time in which people were particularly adept at making grandiose jokes.

Two hundred years ago, the majority of goods and services did not even require leaving the house. It was enough to send a note to the correct address. The person you were waiting for appeared at your door at any time. It was quite an easy way to make fun of a person and causing a commotion in his house.

However, this particular story is the most outstanding event of 1810 in London. At about 9 a.m. on November 27, there was a knock on the door of house number 54 on Bernes Street, where the wealthy widow Mrs Tottenham lived. The maid opened the door and found a chimney sweep on the threshold. He claimed that his services were required at this address. After explaining to the worker that a mistake had occurred, she sent him on his way. However, after him, one after another, 12 more of his colleagues came to the same address. They all left with nothing. But things had only just started. What seemed a simple misunderstanding was rapidly turning into a nightmare.

An endless string of goods and services reached the door of the venerable Mrs Tottenham. Carts loaded with coal were followed by carriages with furniture. The confectioners were sent away with massive custom-made wedding cakes. Fifty cooks came with two and a half thousand raspberry cakes. Doctors were replaced by lawyers, gardeners by fishmongers, greengrocers by priests, hairdressers by antique dealers, brewers by shoemakers, and many other people of many different jobs. No one came empty-handed but with goods allegedly ordered by the proprietor.

If you think that it is just something that could happen in the 19th century then you do not understand the whole madness of the situation. Even the funeral home brought a coffin made specially for Mrs Tottenham. The mystical organiser of this tremendous event ordered twelve grand pianos, convinced the mayor of London to come to this address, and invited the Archbishop of Canterbury to hold a service there.

So who was this brazen joker? It was a British author, who was the founder of the "John Bull" newspaper, which diImage: Inveterate prankster, Theodore Hook

rectly influenced British history in 1820, Theodore Hook. He created the style of political satire, which is widespread even in the present, and was the best selling novelist before Charles Dickens. Also, Hook "invented" the first postcard by sending it to himself, probably playing a prank on post office workers. The postcard has a ‘penny black’ stamp and sold for £31,750 in 2002. The Berners Street Hoax was the result of a bet Theodore Hook had with his friend, Samuel Beazley, that for a guinea he could make any house in London the most talked about address within a week. Of course, it all cost a little more than a guinea. But on the other hand, Theodore Hook and his friend could contemplate a hilarious spectacle from the window opposite the house of the victim.

Next time you wish to prank someone, think about whether it will resemble an extraordinary event in London. But if you want to do something similar, do not forget to invite me to participate!