Sep 27, 2026 · 48 min · 20 segments
Throughout our history cities have been drivers of innovation, from sewers to public lighting, via traffic lights and escalators. Today’s discussion is with Jonn Elledge, author of 31 Inventions That…
Jonn ElledgeGuest
Oliver Webb-CarterHostWell, uh, actually, one, one, uh, since you mentioned maps, I wanted to bring this up because we talked about this last time and, um, the County of Middlesex, since we spoke, is enjoying a resurgence.
Well, I think the government in one of its first announcements, the, the labor government when, uh, since it was elected in '24, I think Steve Reed, who's no longer with us in the, in the cabinet, I don't think.
But he announced a reorganization of, of local government, and there's a part of West Surrey and South Middlesex planning to be renamed.
But I don't think it's gone through its, you know, um, [lip smack] uh, the, this was a story from a few months ago, so I don't know if it's got to, um, legislation yet.
Oh, they, they, they've canned a lot of the reorganization, so it might, Middlesex might be dead again.
It's, it's just kind of like, it, it's an odd little, um, corner of, uh, of, of British geographical history that kind of highlights that how, how, how completely man-made these places are.
Like, we do sort of assume that there is a thing called France and it's, and it's, it's going to exist eternally.
You know, it's like, uh, and there, and there are other places that have completely dropped off the map.
Well, uh, actually, one, one, uh, since you mentioned maps, I wanted to bring this up because we talked about this last time and, um, the County of Middlesex, since we spoke, is enjoying a resurgence.
Well, I think the government in one of its first announcements, the, the labor government when, uh, since it was elected in '24, I think Steve Reed, who's no longer with us in the, in the cabinet, I don't think.
But he announced a reorganization of, of local government, and there's a part of West Surrey and South Middlesex planning to be renamed.
But I don't think it's gone through its, you know, um, [lip smack] uh, the, this was a story from a few months ago, so I don't know if it's got to, um, legislation yet.
Oh, they, they, they've canned a lot of the reorganization, so it might, Middlesex might be dead again.
It's, it's just kind of like, it, it's an odd little, um, corner of, uh, of, of British geographical history that kind of highlights that how, how, how completely man-made these places are.
Like, we do sort of assume that there is a thing called France and it's, and it's, it's going to exist eternally.
You know, it's like, uh, and there, and there are other places that have completely dropped off the map.
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