Parking Meter King

Today in 1958 Parking meters first appeared on the UK's streets in London's exclusive Mayfair district. Presumably the inhabitants of the district at that time had lots of large cars cluttering up the place and simply wanted to clear a space so that they could play a match or two of healthy street football or even cricket.
We got them in Inverurie a few years ago and what a pain they are. The only good thing about them is that local folk have a kind habit of sticking tickets with unused parking time on the side of the machine for the next person to use.
I bet the royals are wishing that Richard III had bought a ticket.

Let me see, five hundred years at £1.50 for 2 hours ...