The Great London Smog of 1952

Last year I posted about the pea soupers of the 50s and 60s and got some great comments back

London history fans (and we are legion) might be interested in this BBC Witness programme broadcast on the Great London Smog of 1952:

In 1952, the worst smog in living memory descended over London, reducing visibility so badly that people could barely see a metre in front of them.

Public transport came to a standstill, cinemas and theatres closed, and the weekend's football matches were cancelled.

The pollution also caused the early deaths of around 5,000 Londoners and finally forced the government to tackle pollution.

 

Photo by Arctic Lovers Rock on Flickr. Click to view large