Monopoly 14: Marlborough Street

 

As a quiz question master I have in the past asked the question – which street on the traditional London monopoly board does not actually exist in real life? – the answer to which is Marlborough Street. This is because it has never been called just Marlborough Street, but rather Great Marlborough Street. A bit of a trick question, but trust me, quizzes are full of those.

The street is named after John Churchill, the first Duke of Marlborough, and in the view of Queen Anne, he was pretty great. It was first laid out in 1704, during her reign. Like Bow Street, Great Marlborough Street was home to one of the most important Magistrates’ Courts in London. This closed in 1998.

One of the most remarkable things about the street is that it gave its name to the Marlboro cigarette brand. Makers Philip Morris had a factory on the street at one time, and used an americanised version of the name for a cigarette brand that consciously plays on the image of the rugged, wild western Marlboro Man.