In 1938 an unamed pedestrian was struck on the head, and subsequently died from a stone phallus falling from one of the statues adorning the headquarters of the British Medical Association at 429 Strand. The building featured a series of 8 foot sculptures representing “The Ages of Man”, produced by Jacob Epstein in 1908 as his first major commission in London.
The sight of huge, beautifully sculpted genitals was too much for Edwardian sensibilities and provoked considerable controversy at the time. Father Thomas O`Hanlon, a member of the National Vigilance Society raged in The Times that:
“As a Christian in a Christian City, I claim the right to say that I object most emphatically to such indecent statuary being thrust upon my view.”
People flocked into London for precisely that.
Artists and critics were very supportive of Epstein and the BMA decided to withstand the pressure to remove the sculptures.
In 1938 the Rhodesian High Commission bought the building and work started cleaning the grime stained facade. It now appears that the hoses used to clean the stone had weakened the willy of one of the statues and it was only a matter of time before it fell off, alas onto the head of our unfortunate passerby.
Shortly after taking residence the Rhodesian High Commission emasculated all the remaining statues.
For more equally strange stories about our capital city, I would like to recommend my Curious Guide to London available on Amazon and various book shops