This Week In London’s History
- Monday – 11th April 1981: Following the arrest of a black youth on the previous evening, a huge riot breaks out in Brixton. More than 300 police officers and 65 civilians are injured; over 100 vehicles and 150 buildings are seriously damaged.
- Tuesday – 12th April 1941: Robert Frederick Chelsea Moore is born in Barking, East London. Better-known as 'Bobby', he would become a successful footballer, captaining West Ham and England (in 1966, no less).
- Wednesday – 13th April 2002: As many as 15,000 demonstrators gather in Hyde Park and Trafalgar Square to protest against Israeli military action in the West Bank.
- Thursday – 14th April 1471: During the Wars of the Roses, the Yorkists defeat the Lancastrians in the Battle of Barnet, allowing Edward IV to resume the throne.
- Friday – 15th April 1755: Samuel Johnson’s A Dictionary of the English Language is published in London.
Random London Quote Of The Week
I once reminded him that when Dr Adam Smith was expatiating on the beauty of Glasgow he had cut him short by saying, "Pray, Sir, have you ever seen Brentford?" and I took the liberty to add, "My dear Sir, surely that was shocking." "Why then Sir," he replied, "YOU have never seen Brentford."
James Boswell, Life of Johnson
Picture by routemaster_fan via the Londonist Flickr Pool.