Anyone in the UK right now will most probably have heard the tragic news of a balcony collapse in Cadogan Square, Knightsbridge/Chelsea, London.
Details can be found here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-30148003
As an overview for those short of time or inclination, eight people were injured, one died at the scene, impaled and another man in hospital later on. The two men were of Polish origin, delivering a sofa to the first floor as the railing they were working over collapsed and thus they fell to their demise.
It is common place to deliver large items in this way as there are contractual clauses in place, where the ground floor is often communal and henceforth liability for accidents would be shared. I'm not sure if this is common place in cities or if its a local culture, the latter of which would be eye brow raising at least.....
There is fairly little doubt at this stage that this was an accident, but a look into the history of Cadogan Square tells a very different story and for some inexplicable reason this has piqued my interest sufficiently to do some digging. After my other half casually mentioned that it didn't stack up I got to work.....
Judy Garland
Found dead in number four Cadogan Square following an "uncautious self over-dose" on barbiturates (Seconal). Despite this verdict from the coroner there was no evidence to support it, no stomach inflammation, no suspicion of suicide and no drug residue. For anyone who knows their drugs they would know that Seconal is an anti-depressant that would require enormous doses to induce organ failure at worst, which would have been absolutely obvious as a cause of death.
Barbara Daly Baekland
American socialite and model for Vogue and the like. One of Americas top ten "beauties". This one's a fascinating character that told lies in order to marry into the Baekland family (Bakelite Plastic empire) and ended up in an incestuous relationship with her gay son (go figure?), who ended up stabbing his mother to death.
Lord Lucan
Lived on the square for a time during which he allegedly murdered his nanny Sandra Rivett before disappearing from view for good. The deaths of his earlier family members make for interesting reading too, most being "accidental" or connected to mental health, much like both the above.
Hans Rousing
Tetra Pak tycoon allegedly moved to Sussex having hidden his wife's decomposing body for two months in his home on Cadogan Square. I can find no information to "prove this" as it were. The guy is free. Yes that's right, he's free and roaming Sussex. Again, go figure (must still be so some sort of "use" maybe?).
Oscar Wilde
Arrested in the Cadogan hotel for homosexual acts in 1895 and served two years for it.
Harry Potter
Well read, suspected (come on guys) esotericist JK Rowling uses Sir Cadogan trapped in a painting as the defender of Griffendor common room. A bit wooly this one but blame history and my mind!
So my questioning brain finds itself very much alive here. On the one hand we have had a tragic accident that was inevitable one day due to "legislation" requiring large item deliveries to be elevated. We have a very recent (haven't looked back further yet) history of odd events in this small locale. That said, it's affluence and price bracket would attract the better to do and henceforth odd events would have a tendency to make headlines. There is also the common knowledge (for those who have concluded thus, like me) that most fame comes at the price of a blood debt....
Throw in the Harry Potter reference, given its esoteric leaning, and a "hidden" London that exists always. What the HELL is underneath this place?!?! I can have a guess....
All answers on a postcard to P.O BOX 777.
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Originally posted by monk
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