Yes, verbascum and the furry one is v. thapsus.
But I reckon the others at the side of the road (also seen them near a couple of gravel pits) are a different variety, that's what I'm not sure about.
Just seen where it says they love areas with little competition, that's true - half the woodland wasmissing when a lot of our local ones grew. A woman had one growing in her garden, never before seen it, but she'd move an old bush from there the year before - no competition again.
They're biennials and these never showed again. Next time I see one flowering I'm going to try and save the seeds if I can, I'd love to see lots of them so I'll scatter them in folk's gardens around the area.