Back in the day, little six-year-old Benny Merrell was hustling in the cold streets of West London, selling firewood to make a bit of pocket money. But he didn’t get it from the forest—he scavenged wooden paving blocks right off Shirland Road. These blocks were leftovers from a time when wood was used to surface roads to soften the sound of horse-drawn carriages.
Soaked in tar, the blocks were super flammable—perfect for fireplaces in post-war Britain, when fuel was still scarce and homes relied on open fires to stay warm.
What’s wild is those same wooden roads had a dark history. During WWII, in cities like Hamburg and Dresden, the tarred wood actually ignited during bombings, turning streets into blazing rivers of fire.
By 1954, those roads were almost gone, replaced by modern pavement. But for young Benny, they were a chance to earn, stay warm, and connect with a fading piece of the past.
A little piece of history, hidden beneath our feet.
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