A TIMELINE OF EVERYDAY LIFE 1450-2010
By Tim Lambert
1476 The printing press is introduced into England by Caxton
1477 Caxton prints the Canterbury Tales
1485 The Tudor dynasty begins. London probably has a population of 60-70,000.
1509 Wallpaper is printed in England for the first time
1512 Henry VIII founds the Royal Mail for carrying royal messages c 1525 Turkeys are introduced into England 1530 The population of England and Wales is about 3 million 1534 Henry VIII becomes supreme head of the Church of England 1565 The pencil is first mentioned 1576 The first theatre in England opens 1577 William Harrison comments that for many people life is becoming more comfortable. Chimneys are becoming more common, so are soft mattresses and pewter. 1580s Potatoes are introduced into England 1596 A form of flushing lavatory is invented but the idea fails to catch on. 1600 The population of England and Wales is about 4 million. The population of Scotland is about 800,000 1608 The telescope is invented 1611 The King James Bible is published 1633 Bananas are first recorded in England 1635 Charles I opens the Royal Mail to the public 1641 The first English newspaper is published 1660 Samuel Pepys records drinking a new drink called tea 1665 Plague strikes London 1657 The pendulum clock is invented 1689 Dissenters (Protestants who do not belong to the Church of England) are allowed freedom of worship 1694 The Bank of England is founded 1702 The first daily newspaper in England is printed. The population of England and Wales is about 5 1/2 million. The population of Scotland is about 1 million. 1750 The first cricket club is formed at Hambledon 1759 Guinness is first brewed 1767 The first jigsaw puzzle is made. The first modern shower is invented. 1772 Fizzy drinks are invented. Joseph Priestley discovers a way to trap carbon dioxide in water and created carbonated water. 1775 Alexander Cumming invents a flushing toilet 1779 Samuel Crompton invents the spinning mule 1780 The Industrial Revolution begins to transform Britain 1782 A hand operated washing machine is invented 1784 Henry Cort invents the puddling process (used in making iron) 1785 The Times is first printed. Edmund Cartwright invents a loom that can be powered by a steam engine. 1792 Gas light is invented 1801 The population of Britain is about 9 million 1817 The kaleidoscope is invented 1823 Rugby is invented 1825 The first passenger railway opens between Stockton and Darlington 1829 The mouth organ is invented 1832 Cholera breaks out in many towns and cities in Britain 1833 A law bans children under 9 from working in textile factories 1835 Worcester sauce is invented 1837 The electric telegraph is invented 1840 The Penny Post is introduced. The electric clock is invented. 1842 A law bans children under 10 and all females from working underground in coal mines 1843 The first Christmas card is made 1844 A law bans children under 8 from working 1847 A law bans women and children from working more than 10 hours a day in textile factories. Chloroform is used as an anaesthetic. The Christmas cracker is invented. 1848 Cholera breaks out in many towns and cities 1849 The safety pin is invented 1851 In Britain for the first time more than half the population live in towns 1852 The first modern public lavatory opens in London 1853 Potato crisps are invented 1855 The can opener is invented. The Daily Telegraph is first printed. Safety matches are invented. Dry cleaning is invented. 1860 Linoleum is invented 1861 Garibaldi biscuits are invented 1864 Jelly babies are invented 1863 The London Football Association devises rules for football 1865 Antiseptic surgery is introduced, The Salvation Army is founded. The picture postcard is invented. 1869 Kendal Mint cake is invented 1870 The state decides to provide schools for all children 1871 Bank Holidays are introduced 1874 The first successful typewriter is invented. Tomato ketchup is invented. Jeans are invented. 1875 Milk chocolate is invented. Snooker is invented. A law bans boys from climbing up chimneys to clean them. 1876 The carpet sweeper is invented. The feather duster is patented. The telephone is invented. 1879 Electric light is invented. By now most working class homes in towns have gas light. 1880 School is made compulsory for 5 to 10 year olds 1882 The electric iron is invented. The electric fan is invented. Christmas tree lights are invented. 1885 Cream crackers are invented. The safety bicycle goes on sale. The first car is made. 1886 Josephine Cochran invents a hand operated dishwasher 1887 Softball is invented 1888 The first modern deodorant is invented. The first cheap camera is introduced and photography becomes a popular hobby. The Financial Times is first printed. 1889 The electric water heater is invented. The jukebox is invented. The lift is invented. 1890 Peanut brittle is invented. The first electric kettle is sold. The first electric underground trains in London run. 1891 Basketball is invented 1892 Collapsible toothpaste tubes are invented. Digestive biscuits are invented. Snakes and Ladders is introduced. 1893 Wine gums are first sold. Electric ovens go on sale in Britain. The electric toaster is invented. The zip fastener is invented. 1894 The escalator is invented 1895 Volleyball is invented. Netball is first played in England. X rays are discovered. 1896 The Daily Mail is first printed 1897 Candy floss is invented 1899 Liquorice allsorts are invented. More than 25% of the population was living at or below subsistence level. 1900 Meccano is invented. The tape recorder is invented. Life expectancy at birth is 47 for a man and 50 for a woman. 1901 The vacuum cleaner is invented. Marconi sends a radio message across the Atlantic. The first safety razors go on sale. The population of Britain is about 41 million. 1903 The ice cream cone is invented. The Daily Mirror is first printed. 1905 Dairy Milk is introduced. Ping pong is introduced. 1906 Bubble gum is invented. The electric washing machine is invented. 1907 Synthetic hair dye is invented 1910 Walnut whip is introduced. Bourbon biscuits are invented. Neon lights are invented. 1913 Steel wool cleaning pads are invented. Mascara is invented. The bra is invented. The first domestic fridge is sold. The first crossword appears. 1914 Salad cream is invented. A typical working class family spends 60% of its income on food. 1915 Milk Tray is introduced. Lipstick is first sold in push up tubes. 1916 False eyelashes are invented 1918 Jelly babies are invented. The minimum age for leaving school is set at 14. 1919 Passenger flights begin between London and Paris 1920 Flake is introduced 1921 Choc-ices go on sale in the USA. Fruit and Nut is introduced. 1922 The electric dishwasher is invented. The BBC begins broadcasting radio. 1923 Milky Way is introduced in the USA. The ice lolly is invented. 1924 Tizer goes on sale. Vinyl is invented. 1926 The steam iron is invented. Television is invented. Traffic lights are installed in London. 1927 The first film with sound, The Jazz Singer is made. Jaffa cakes go on sale. 1928 Toilet paper is sold in rolls for the first time. Sliced bread is sold for the first time. 1929 Crunchie is introduced 1930 Snickers and Freddo are introduced. The first Football World Cup is held. 1932 Terry's Chocolate Orange and All Gold are introduced. Mars bars are first made. Lip-gloss goes on sale. In Britain unemployment reaches 22.8% 1933 Whole nut is introduced. So are lovehearts and Black Magic. 1934 Monopoly is introduced. In built up areas a 30-mile an hour speed limit is introduced. Percy Shaw invents cats eyes. Tampons are introduced. 1935 Aero and Kit Kat are introduced. Milky Way is introduced in Britain. Nylon is invented. A typical working class family spends 35% of its income on food. Bra cup sizes are introduced. 1936 Maltesers and Blue Riband are introduced. Dairy Box and Quality Street are also introduced. Spam is invented. The BBC begins broadcasting television. A survey finds 4% of the population are living at subsistence level. Belisha beacons are introduced to make crossing the road easier. 1937 Smarties and Rolo are introduced. Milky Bar is introduced. 1938 Cadburys Roses are introduced. Instant coffee is invented. The Beano is first published. In Britain unemployment stands at about 10% 1939 By law all workers are allowed 1 week annual holiday 1941 Polyester is invented. Antibiotics are introduced. 1942 Soft toilet paper is introduced 1946 The bikini is invented 1947 The minimum age for leaving school is raised to 15. Transistors are invented. 1948 Polo mints are introduced. Hairspray is invented. Scrabble is introduced. 1949 Cludeo is introduced. Jet passenger aircraft are introduced. 1951 Bounty is introduced. Dennis the Menace first appears. Zebra crossings are introduced. 1953 Tea bags go on sale in Britain 1955 Fish fingers go on sale 1956 The film Rock Around the Clock is shown in Britain 1957 Munchies are introduced 1958 Picnic is introduced. So is Galaxy. Washing up liquid is also introduced. 1959 Caramac is introduced. In Britain 32% of households own a car. Barbie doll is invented. 1960 Starburst is introduced. The first ready salted crisps are sold. Lasers are invented. In Britain 44% of households own a washing machine. 1962 After Eight Mints are introduced. Topic is introduced. 1963 Toffee Crisp is introduced 1964 BBC 2 begins broadcasting 1965 Chewits are introduced. The mini skirt is invented. 1967 Twix is introduced. The first ATM in Britain is installed. The quartz crystal watch is introduced. BBC 2 is the first British TV station to be broadcast in colour. 1969 Capital punishment for murder is abolished in Britain. The pelican crossing is introduced. Lollipop men and women are introduced. Monty Pythons Flying Circus is first broadcast. 1971 Curly Wurly is introduced. The first email is sent. In Britain the currency is decimalised. In Britain life expectancy is 68 for a man and 72 for a woman. 1972 The minimum age for leaving school is raised to 16 1973 In Britain unemployment is about 3% 1974 Skittles (sweets) are introduced 1975 In Britain 90% of homes have a vacuum cleaner, 85% have a fridge and 70% own washing machine. Furthermore 52% have a telephone and 47% have central heating. 1976 Yorkie, Double Decker and Lion Bar are introduced 1982 Channel 4 begins broadcasting. Trivial Pursuit is introduced. 1983 Wispa is introduced. The £1 coin is introduced. In Britain seat belts are made compulsory. 1985 The first mobile phone call in Britain is made. Pictionary is introduced. 1986 Hobnobs are introduced. The Independent is first printed. In Britain the official unemployment rate reaches 14.1% 1987 The cane is abolished in state schools 1989 Satellite television begins in Britain 1992 The first commercial text is sent. In Britain speed cameras are introduced. 1994 The Channel Tunnel opens 1998 Student grants are abolished 2009 In Britain 36% of households own a dishwasher Everyday Life in the 16th Century Everyday Life in the 17th Century Everyday Life in the 18th Century Everyday Life in the 19th Century