Today in History

December 31st
1695 The window tax was imposed in Britain. It resulted in many being bricked up, evidence which remains to this day



1759 Arthur Guinness signed a 9,000 year lease at £45 per annum and started brewing Guinness at the St. James's Gate Brewery, Dublin. Ten years later Guinness exported his ale for the first time, when six and a half barrels were shipped to Britain.




1892 The first hostel for homeless men, Rowton House, opened in Bond Street, Vauxhall. There was strict discipline, with rules against cooking, card playing, etc.




1923 The chimes of Big Ben were broadcast on radio for the first time by the BBC.




31 Dec 1962
During his first visit to the UK Bob Dylan played at the King And Queen pub in London. Dylan had arrived in the UK on 17th Dec after British TV director Philip Saville had heard Dylan perform in Greenwich Village, and had invited him to take part in a BBC television drama: The Madhouse On Castle Street.



2022 Scarborough cancelled its New Year’s Eve fireworks display because a sleepy walrus (named Thor) decided to 'take a break' for almost 24 hours on the seaside town's slipway, on his journey to the Arctic. By the time that the fireworks should have started, Thor had moved on, continuing his journey north!
 

31st December

1951 After a delay of 24 hours, Prime Minister Winston Churchill and the Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden set sail to America on the Queen Mary for talks with President Truman. The departure had been delayed due to a jammed anchor.

1964 Donald Campbell broke the world water speed record, becoming the first man to break the world land and water speed records in the same year.

1987 Zeebrugge heroes honoured. Belgians and Britons who displayed heroism during the rescue operation of the Zeebrugge ferry disaster were recognised in the New Year's Honours List.

1999 Boris Yeltsin announced his resignation as Russian president, taking the country and the rest of the world completely by surprise. He said Prime Minister Vladimir Putin would take over as acting president
 

Back
Top