The Greatest Prank Of The 19th Century Explained

It all began for Mrs. Tottenham in the early morning hours of November 27, 1810, when a chimney sweep knocked on the door of Tottenham's London address at 54 Berners Street, according to Curious Historian. That chimney sweep was there, he said, because someone at that address had requested his services. A member of Tottenham's staff answered the door, and unaware of what the chimney sweep was referring to, sent the tradesman on his way.

Soon enough, though, the long day that the Tottenham house staff were in for only worsened, as more and more chimney sweeps descended upon the address. Those chimney sweeps were followed up by a coal cart carrying a sizable load, which, according to the men who were there to deliver it, someone at 54 Berners Street had ordered, as History Today goes on to explain.

One can imagine the dismay of Mrs. Tottenham and her staff as they sent one after the other about their business, including the coal cart. As that cart disappeared, they likely imagined the unusual sequence of events they'd experienced that morning was finally over. They were wrong.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7qL7Up56eZpOkunCFkGltcnBfl7KzusSrqmarpKeypsCMoaaasF2ptaZ5xqucmqyVqMFuvNGapaRln5t6tbTEZmhyrJhisKa6066psmWVrb2trcinnJ1n