This Week In London’s History
- Monday – 22 July 2005: Brazilian electrician Jean Charles de Menezes is mistaken for a terrorist and shot dead by Metropolitan police officers at Stockwell tube station.
- Tuesday – 23 July 1986: Prince Andrew marries Sarah Ferguson at Westminster Abbey. As a wedding present (of sorts), the Queen grants them the title of Duke and Duchess of York.
- Wednesday – 24 July 1987: At the High Court, Jeffrey Archer wins damages of £500,000 in his libel case against the Daily Star. 14 years later he would be convicted of perjury and perverting the course of justice for falsifying an alibi during the 1987 trial. He would eventually repay the £500,000 to the Daily Star.
- Thursday – 25 July 1859: Vauxhall Gardens – a popular ‘pleasure garden’ based in Kennington, South London – are closed for good, following a couple of decades of disuse.
- Friday – 26 July 1945: Helen Lydia Mironoff is born in Hammersmith. Her surname would be changed to Mirren during her childhood, and she would become a celebrated actor.
Random London Quote Of The Week
The man who can dominate a London dinner-table can dominate the world.
Oscar Wilde, 'A Woman of No Importance'
Photo by Matthew Gidley via the Londonist Flickr Pool.
