A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 22 January
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 22 January?
- AD 871 Vikings defeat the West Saxons at the Battle of Basing
A Viking army defeated the West Saxons, from the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex, at Basing, a royal estate in Hampshire. - 1561 Born: Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon was an English philosopher and statesman who served King James I as Attorney General and Lord Chancellor. - 1689 The Convention Parliament meets to decide who will rule England
A special Parliament, known as the Convention, met to decide what should happen to the throne. - 1879 Zulu forces defeat the British at the Battle of Isandlwana
The Zulu army of King Cetshwayo won a decisive victory over British forces at Isandlwana, in present-day South Africa. - 1901 Queen Victoria dies and her son becomes King Edward VII
Queen Victoria died at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight, aged 81, and her eldest son became King Edward VII. Victoria had reigned for more than 63 years, longer than any British monarch before her. - 1920 Born: Alf Ramsey
Alf Ramsey was an English footballer who played as a defender and captained the England team. - 1924 Ramsay MacDonald becomes the first Labour prime minister
Ramsay MacDonald became the first prime minister of the United Kingdom from the Labour Party. - 1927 The first radio commentary of a football match is broadcast
Teddy Wakelam and Cecil Lewis gave the first commentary of a football match on British radio.
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| AD 871 | Vikings defeat the West Saxons at the Battle of Basing | 2026 − 871 = | |
| 1689 | The Convention Parliament meets to decide who will rule England | 2026 − 1689 = | |
| 1901 | Queen Victoria dies and her son becomes King Edward VII | 2026 − 1901 = | |
| 1924 | Ramsay MacDonald becomes the first Labour prime minister | 2026 − 1924 = |
3. Put them in order
Write 1 next to the oldest event, then 2, 3 and so on up to the newest. Use list 1 to help you!
- Vikings defeat the West Saxons at the Battle of Basing
- The Convention Parliament meets to decide who will rule England
- Zulu forces defeat the British at the Battle of Isandlwana
- Queen Victoria dies and her son becomes King Edward VII
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “Ramsay MacDonald becomes the first Labour prime minister”?
- A. AD 871
- B. 1689
- C. 1924
In which year did this happen: “Zulu forces defeat the British at the Battle of Isandlwana”?
- A. 1920
- B. 1689
- C. 1879
Which of these happened first?
- A. Ramsay MacDonald becomes the first Labour prime minister
- B. Queen Victoria dies and her son becomes King Edward VII
- C. Zulu forces defeat the British at the Battle of Isandlwana
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 22 January. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 871 → 1,155 years; 1689 → 337 years; 1901 → 125 years; 1924 → 102 years.
Order: 1 = Vikings defeat the West Saxons at the Battle of Basing (AD 871), 2 = The Convention Parliament meets to decide who will rule England (1689), 3 = Zulu forces defeat the British at the Battle of Isandlwana (1879), 4 = Queen Victoria dies and her son becomes King Edward VII (1901).
Quiz: 1. C (1924); 2. C (1879); 3. C (Zulu forces defeat the British at the Battle of Isandlwana).