This Week In London’s History
- Monday – 29th August 1947: James Hunt is born in Belmont (a village in what is now the London Borough of Sutton). He would become a popular and successful racing driver, winning the F1 World Championship in 1976.
- Tuesday – 30th August 1797: Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin is born in Somers Town. She would become known, under the name Mary Shelley, for her novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus.
- Wednesday – 31st August 1888: Mary Ann Nichols is found dead in Whitechapel. Her death would be attributed to Jack the Ripper.
- Thursday – 1st September 1856: Richard Westmacott, the sculptor responsible for numerous London landmarks, dies at his Mayfair home.
- Friday – 2nd September 1666: The Great Fire of London breaks out. It would burn for three days, destroying over 13,000 buildings.
Random London Quote Of The Week
Hell is a city much like London—
A populous and a smoky city;
There are all sorts of people undone,
And there is little or no fun done;
Small justice shown, and still less pity.
Percy Bysshe Shelley
Picture by tezzer57 via the Londonist Flickr pool.