1326 The death, in the Tower of London, of Roger Mortimer de Chirk, opposer of Edward II during the Despenser War. His nephew Roger Mortimer later led a successful rebellion against the King and completed Chirk Castle - (see picture) .

1460James II, King of Scotland, died after being injured by an exploding cannon at Kelso, in the Scottish Borders. Kelso Abbey (see picture) was the venue for the hasty coronation of the infant king, James III, which quickly followed.

1692The birth of John Henley, English clergyman. He was known as 'Orator Henley' for his showmanship and eccentricity. He charged people the sum of one shilling to attend his meetings because the seats were his personal property!

1792The death, at Cromford, of Richard Arkwright, one of the central figures of the Industrial Revolution and founder of the factory system that transformed England into the workshop of the world. See picture of Arkwright's Cromford Mill during restoration.

1803The birth of Joseph Paxton, English gardener, designer, writer and creator of one of the most famous buildings of Queen Victoria's reign, the Crystal Palace.

1805The first recorded cricket match between English public schools Eton and Harrow.

1856London was divided into postal districts, in order to speed up letter deliveries.

1858Lake Victoria, the source of the Nile, was discovered by the explorer John Speke.

1867The birth of Stanley Baldwin, Prime Minister from 1923-29. This term of office saw the General Strike of 1926, and during his third term, (1935-7), Edward VIII abdicated.

1887The birth of Rupert Brooke, the English poet known for his idealistic war sonnets written during the First World War, especially ' The Soldier' that begins 'If I should die, think only this of me: That there's some corner of a foreign field That is forever England.'

1908The Post Office sent its first parcel mail to the US on the White Star liner, Teutonic

1916Sir Roger Casement, Irish nationalist, was hanged in London for treason, following his attempts to induce Germany to support the cause of Irish independence.

1926Britain installed its first traffic lights - at Piccadilly Circus, in London.

1946The birth of Jack Straw former Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary and MP for Blackburn since 1979.

1957Footballer John Charles was transferred from Leeds to Juventus for a £65,000 fee. He was the first British footballer to be transferred to a foreign club.

1963The Beatles performed at The Cavern Club (on 10, Mathew Street, Liverpool), for the 292nd, and last time. They received a fee of £300 pounds for the performance.

1971 Sanquhar Post Office (see picture) in Dumfries and Galloway became a Category B Listed Building. It is recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest post office in the world and has been in continuous service since 1712.

1978The Queen officially opened the 11th Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Canada.

2001A bomb exploded in a busy west London street, injuring seven people. Dissident Irish republicans were blamed for the atrocity.

2002The death of Carmen Silvera, Canadian-born British comic actress who starred in the television programme, 'Allo Allo!' (written by David Croft & Jeremy Lloyd) as Edith Artois, wife of the cafe owner René.

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