The
Hidden History of Britain As a nation with a rich and storied past, there are countless fascinating historical facts about the United Kingdom that often go overlooked. From the bizarre to the downright unbelievable, the following are just a few examples of the strange and surprising aspects of British history that you may not have known about. The Great Stink There was once a time when London was known as the “smelliest city in the world”. This was largely due to the fact that in the 19th century, the city’s sewage system was badly inadequate for a population of over 3 million people. In the summer of 1858, the Thames River, which was used as a dumping ground for the city’s waste, became so putrid that it caused a public health crisis. The stench was so overpowering that Parliament was forced to close for several days to avoid the smell. It took nearly 20 years for a proper sewage system to be built in London. The Dancing Plague In the summer of 1518, a strange phenomenon occurred in the city of Strasbourg, in what is now modern-day France. A woman named Frau Troffea began dancing in the street, seemingly unable to stop. Within days, others had joined her, and soon there were over 400 people dancing uncontrollably in the town square. The craze lasted for weeks, with many participants dying from exhaustion, heart attacks, or stroke. The cause of the “dancing plague” has never been conclusively established, but theories range from mass hysteria to a fungal infection caused by contaminated rye bread. The World’s Oldest Football Football has been played in the UK since at least the Middle Ages, and there are numerous early references to the sport in literature and historical documents. However, it wasn’t until fairly recently that the oldest known leather football was discovered, during renovation work on a medieval-era house in Stirling, Scotland in 198
1. The ball, which is believed to date back to the 1540s, is roughly the size of a grapefruit and was stuffed with hair and cork. It’s now on display at the Scottish Football Museum. The Great Stork Derby In the early 20th century, a wealthy Toronto lawyer named Charles Vance Millar decided to have a little fun with his inheritance. In his will, he left a small fortune to the woman in Toronto who could give birth to the most children in the 10 years following his death. The contest, known as the “Great Stork Derby”, caused a sensation and attracted thousands of entrants. The winner, a woman named Melvina Germain, gave birth to nine children over the next decade and won the grand prize of $750,000. The bizarre contest became a national scandal and sparked a heated debate about eugenics and the morality of incentivizing childbirth. The Iron Bridge The Industrial Revolution had a profound impact on the UK, and one of its most iconic symbols is the Iron Bridge, which spans the River Severn in Shropshire. Completed in 1779, it was the world’s first bridge to be made entirely of cast iron and was a major engineering feat for its time. The bridge was built to carry horse-drawn traffic across the river and helped to open up the region to commerce and trade. Today, it’s considered a masterpiece of engineering and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Conclusion These are just a few examples of the many fascinating and often little-known stories from British history. From strange epidemics to revolutionary engineering, it’s clear that the UK has always been a land of surprises and bizarre occurrences. By taking the time to explore the lesser-known facts and trivia about our past, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the rich and diverse tapestry of British history.