The Great Monkey Escape in Notting Hill in 1926 | The British Newspaper Archive Blog

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The Great Monkey Escape in Notting Hill in 1926

We do love the quirky stories that the Archive contains.

Indeed, on almost every Archive page that we look at, our attention will be diverted as we spot a story with a quirky headline.

The Scanning Team at Colindale Library are world-leading experts in spotting quirky stories, and it was the ‘Scanners’ who passed on this wonderful “shaggy monkey’s tale” to us, so we could post it on the blog.

It seems that the mass break-out took place from a circus that had been visiting the Notting Hill area. Before the escape, the monkeys had been members of a jazz band, it is reported.

We especially love the report about the monkey who whisked himself away on a train!

Nottingham Evening Post – Monday 22 November 1926

Image © Northcliffe Media Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000321/19261122/015/0005

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3 comments On The Great Monkey Escape in Notting Hill in 1926

  • Thank you, I thoroughly enjoy the little snippets which you managed to unearth. They give an insight into past eras.

  • It is said that there is one thing you never, ever, say to a person who hails from the Forest of Dean unless you are looking for a LOT of trouble, and that is “who killed the bear?”. If you want to know why, check the Gloucester Citizen dated 30 April 1889!

  • LUCKY NO ONE WAS KILLED IF THEY WERE CHIMPANZES THERE
    WOULD OF BEEN.

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