London’s basin location in the Thames estuary had always made it prone to natural mist, with moisture becoming trapped by the surrounding hills; but coal smoke combined with natural fog to create a ‘pea-souper’, a thick smog that could last for days. Why was London so foggy in 1800s? The more smoke and soot in […]
Category: London
Is London Classed As Its Own Country?
London is the capital city of England and is located in the south east of the country. Although a country in its own right, England is also part of the United Kingdom alongside Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Is London technically its own country? The City is now only a small part of the metropolis […]
What Were The Conditions In London In 1888?
Housing was extremely over-crowded, with entire families or groups of strangers crammed into a single room for cooking, eating and sleeping. They would share beds or sleep on the floor, with rags covering broken windows and often flea or insect-infested environments. What were the living conditions like in London in the 1800s? London’s population grew […]
Did South London Used To Be A Swamp?
Until the early 19th century much of north Lambeth (now known as the South Bank) was mostly marsh. The settlement of Lambeth Marsh was built on a raised through road over the marsh lands, potentially dating back to Roman times. Did London used to be a swamp? London for de Landa (2000: 80) was “part […]
Is London Built On Marshes?
London was founded famously, and still sits, on the Thames River. When the city was founded the river was for Ackroyd “bordered by swamps and marshes” (9). Does London still have marshes? Today the marshes provide many pleasant walks, in reach of the inner city, but the most famous use of Hackney Marshes is for […]
Is There A Swat Team In London?
SCO19 Specialist Firearms Command (formerly designated as CO19, before that SO19) London’s ‘SWAT’ unit. The Met’s specialist firearms unit are highly trained armed police organized into CTSFO, TST and ARV units. What’s the UK equivalent of swat? The Secret Intelligence Service, often known as MI6, collects Britain’s foreign intelligence. It provides the government with a […]
Is London Built On A River?
The magnificent city of London owes its very existence to the majestic Royal River Thames which flows through its centre. Is London located on a river? London is situated in southeastern England, lying on both sides of the River Thames some 50 miles (80 km) upstream from its estuary on the North Sea. Why was […]
When Did London Get Piped Water?
Iron pipes were finally introduced in the early 1800s. This high-pressured, more efficient supply brought water into more London homes than ever before. When did London get clean water? As London continued to grow, so did the demand for clean water. Newly established private water companies had to take water directly from the Thames: by […]
What Insurance Companies Did Royal London Take Over?
These were the protection businesses Scottish Provident and Scottish Mutual; Phoenix Life Assurance Limited (formerly Abbey National Life) and Scottish Provident International. What did Royal London insurance used to be called? Gilbert the pelican Burial clubs would eventually become Friendly Societies, and in February 1861, two men named Joseph Degge and Henry Ridge met in […]
Where Is The Most Expensive House In London?
The 20-bedroom megamansion, in the city’s exclusive Knightsbridge neighborhood, is being quietly shopped around for roughly £200 million (US$222.5 million) by its billionaire owner, Hui Ka Yan, the founder and chairman of embattled Chinese property developer Evergrande, according to sources with knowledge of the sale. Which London borough has the most expensive house prices? Kensington […]