A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 29 September
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 29 September?
- 1011 Vikings capture Canterbury and take its archbishop prisoner
A Viking army led by Thorkell the Tall had besieged the English city of Canterbury for about three weeks. - 1267 Henry III recognises Llywelyn ap Gruffudd as Prince of Wales
In the Treaty of Montgomery, King Henry III of England accepted Llywelyn ap Gruffudd as Prince of Wales. - 1758 Born: Horatio Nelson
Horatio Nelson was a British admiral in the Royal Navy. - 1829 London's Metropolitan Police is founded
The Metropolitan Police was founded to keep law and order in London. - 1885 Blackpool opens the world's first practical electric tramway
An electric tramway opened in Blackpool, Lancashire. - 1918 The Battle of St Quentin Canal begins in the First World War
British, Australian and American soldiers of the British Fourth Army began a major attack at the St Quentin Canal on the Western Front. - 1963 The University of East Anglia is founded in Norwich
The University of East Anglia, known as UEA, was founded in Norwich. - 2007 Calder Hall nuclear power station is demolished
Calder Hall, at Sellafield in Cumbria, was the first full-scale nuclear power station to start working anywhere in the world.
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1011 | Vikings capture Canterbury and take its archbishop prisoner | 2026 − 1011 = | |
| 1758 | Born: Horatio Nelson | 2026 − 1758 = | |
| 1885 | Blackpool opens the world's first practical electric tramway | 2026 − 1885 = | |
| 1963 | The University of East Anglia is founded in Norwich | 2026 − 1963 = |
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!
- Blackpool opens the world's first practical electric tramway
- Vikings capture Canterbury and take its archbishop prisoner
- Henry III recognises Llywelyn ap Gruffudd as Prince of Wales
- London's Metropolitan Police is founded
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “The University of East Anglia is founded in Norwich”?
- A. 1829
- B. 1963
- C. 1724
In which year did this happen: “The Battle of St Quentin Canal begins in the First World War”?
- A. 1724
- B. 1918
- C. 1829
Which of these happened first?
- A. The Battle of St Quentin Canal begins in the First World War
- B. Vikings capture Canterbury and take its archbishop prisoner
- C. The University of East Anglia is founded in Norwich
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 29 September. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1011 → 1,015 years; 1758 → 268 years; 1885 → 141 years; 1963 → 63 years.
Order: 1 = Vikings capture Canterbury and take its archbishop prisoner (1011), 2 = Henry III recognises Llywelyn ap Gruffudd as Prince of Wales (1267), 3 = London's Metropolitan Police is founded (1829), 4 = Blackpool opens the world's first practical electric tramway (1885).
Quiz: 1. B (1963); 2. B (1918); 3. B (Vikings capture Canterbury and take its archbishop prisoner).