This Week In London’s History
- Monday – 31 March 1990: Violence erupts as hundreds of thousands of anti-poll-tax protesters take to the streets in the West End. An estimated £400,000 of damage is caused to property as cars are overturned and set alight. Hundreds of arrests are made.
- Tuesday – 1 April 1965: The administrative area known as ‘Greater London’ is formed, amalgamating and consuming parts of central London and the home counties.
- Wednesday – 2 April 1962: The first ‘Panda crossing’ is opened on York Road, opposite Waterloo Station.
- Thursday – 3 April 1954: Oxford University wins the 100th Boat Race.
- Friday – 4 April 1896: The new premises for the National Portrait Gallery (next to the National Gallery by Trafalgar Square) opens its doors for the first time.
London Quote Of The Week
If you lived in London, where the whole system is one of false good-fellowship, and you may know a man for twenty years without finding out that he hates you like poison, you would soon have your eyes opened. There we do unkind things in a kind way: we say bitter things in a sweet voice: we always give our friends chloroform when we tear them to pieces.
George Bernard Shaw, 'You Never Can Tell'
Photo by Terry Moran via the Londonist Flickr Pool.