1978 - The Guiness Book of Records entered the record books as the most-stolen book from British libraries. This is due to its popularity and high demand, leading to frequent "borrowing" that often doesn't result in the books being returned.

1953 - The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II aged 27 took place in Westminster Abbey, London. Her Majesty was the thirty-ninth Sovereign to be crowned at Westminster Abbey and this was the first British coronation to be televised.

1935 - Britain introduced the compulsory use of 'L' plates for learner drivers. Legislation for compulsory testing was introduced for all new drivers with the Road Traffic Act 1934 but the test was initially voluntary to avoid a rush of candidates.

1859 - The clock in the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament was started, with the bell (Big Ben) sounding for the first time on 11th July. The clock tower was renamed the Elizabeth Tower in recognition of HM The Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

1914 - The new, and at that time the largest Cunard ocean liner, RMS Aquitania weighing 45,647 tons, set sails on her maiden voyage from Liverpool to New York City.

1954 - Diane Leather, of Birmingham University, became the first woman to run a mile in under 5 minutes. Her time was 4 min 59.6 seconds at the Midland Counties WAAA Championships at Birmingham's Alexander Stadium.

1951 - Crazy People, the first programme of what became The Goon Show, aired. The stars - Spike Milligan, Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe and Michael Bentine - were billed in the Radio Times as "Radio's own Crazy Gang 'The Goons'".

1852 - The opening of Grimsby Royal Dock. Grimsby once had the largest fishing fleet in the world. Albert, Prince Consort laid the first stone on 17th April 1849.

1897 - Dracula, a novel by Irish author Bram Stoker was published. The town of Whitby in North Yorkshire, has associations with Bram Stoker as he based much of his Dracula novel here whilst staying in Whitby in 1890.