This Week In London’s History
- Monday – 1st August 2003: The Hutton Inquiry, set up to “urgently conduct an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Dr David Kelly”, begins at the Royal Courts of Justice. The inquiry runs until January 2004 – the published report clearing the British government of wrongdoing, amid widespread claims of “establishment whitewash”.
- Tuesday – 2nd August 1967: The newer carriageway of the Blackwall Tunnel is opened, 70 years after the opening of the original tunnel. The newer tunnel lies to the east of the original tunnel, and is normally used for southbound traffic.
- Wednesday – 3rd August 2001: Just a few seconds after midnight, a car bomb explodes in Ealing Broadway, injuring 7 people and causing significant damage to the surrounding area. The bombing is subsequently attributed to the ‘Real IRA’, and three men are later jailed for causing this and two other explosions.
- Thursday – 4th August 1902: The Greenwich Foot Tunnel is opened, providing pedestrian access between the Isle of Dogs and Greenwich.
- Friday – 5th August 1100: Henry I is crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey.
Random London Quote Of The Week
Every city has a sex and an age which have nothing to do with demography. Rome is feminine. So is Odessa. London is a teenager, an urchin, and, in this, hasn't changed since the time of Dickens. Paris, I believe, is a man in his twenties in love with an older woman.
John Berger
Photo by Stephskimo via the Londonist Flickr Pool.
