Woodbine Cottage
William Shakespeare
Credit: User unknown/public domain
The first day of November was an important day for two London notables: William Shakespeare and W.H. Smith

On 1 November 1604, William Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello was presented for the first time, at The Palace of Whitehall. The palace was the main residence of the English monarchs in London from 1530 until 1698. Seven years to the day, Shakespeare’s romantic comedy The Tempest was also presented for the first time, and also at the Palace of Whitehall.

On 1 November 1848, WH Smith opened its first railway bookstall, at Euston Station.

On 1 November 1956, Premium Bonds first went on sale in Britain with the winning numbers picked at random by a machine with the acronym ’ERNIE’. The first Premium Bond was bought by the then Lord Mayor of London, Sir Cuthbert Ackroyd.

On 1 November 1959, The first stretch of the M1 motorway linking London with the North of England was opened.

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