Don’t panic, this headline doesn’t mean that Elon Musk has put in a bid to purchase the whole of the city we love, it is reference to the board game of that name. Although invented by Charles Darrow in 1933 in the USA, the British version was manufactured later that decade in Leeds by John Waddington Printers in their factory at Stourton. It was based on a 1904 invention by Elizabeth J Magie called The Landlord’s Game.
On looking at the dictionary the word is of Greek origin and comes, via Latin, with ‘monos’ meaning ‘single’ and ‘pōlein’, ‘sell’. Funny, I always thought that single sell was an amoeba. Be that as it may, the only cell involved in Monopoly is the one in the Jail square, so that might be it.
The Waddington Factory
The first game ever played in the UK involved Norman Victor Watson, the Managing Director and later Chairman of John Waddington Ltd. There seems to be no record as to whom the opponent was, perhaps he misunderstood the rules and took the name seriously by playing on his own! He certainly didn’t misunderstand the potential of the product as it provided income for many years. Surprisingly the games branch of the company, which was sold to Hasbro in 1994, only ever provided 15% of the overall income which is even more of a revelation when you consider that they also made Totopoly, Cluedo, Scoop! and other famous games. Their name was so synonymous with the trade that the local pub was known as the Colonel Mustard.
God’s Own Version
The reason I have gone into all this palaver is that it is not Mr Musk who is taking over Leeds this summer, it is Monopoly itself. The city will be turned into a real life Monopoly board using local landmarks as the board, with giant tokens, clues and puzzles all over the place. There will be dice, Get Out Of Jail Free and Pass Go cards with puzzles to solve in order to buy back the city.
An early variation
The event runs from 27th July until 1st September and is free so you won’t need to worry the Banker.
The original
To get you in the mood Leeds City Museum has a display of Monopoly memorabilia including a 1935 original edition and an example of the 1940s version with secreted maps, compasses and real money, which were sent to Prisoners of War to help them escape. There is also a Limited Edition Yorkshire variation and a selection of other games and merch from the company.
Leeds City Trust will be placing a blue plaque at Layton Grange, Horsforth in September where Norman Victor Watson lived from 1941-1969.
For more details of the exhibition and Leeds City Museum please go to https://museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.uk/events/leeds-city-museum/waddingtons-and-monopoly-display/?occurrence=2024-04-16
To see what the latest news is about the event it is https://monopolyleeds.com/heritage/ but please keep checking as more details are on the way.
Photographs by Stan Graham
Feature Image provided by Chapter81. Left to Right: Sally Watson-West, family member of Norman Victor Watson, the first player; Martin Hamilton, Director of Leeds Civic Trust; John Watson, family member; Andrew Cooper, Leeds BID Chief Executive and Matthew Storey, Principal Keeper at Leeds City Museum.
Tyke It To The Limit 