The 20th Century (1901 - 2000)

Thames Tunnels - Atomic power takes over from GMT - Prepare for the third millennium.

1837 - 1901

1901 - 1910

1902: Greenwich Foot Tunnel opens under the River Thames - steam ferry closes.

1904-7: Poet Laureate John Masefield (1878 - 1967) lived in Greenwich.

1905: Greenwich Town Hall built.

1910: Sir Frank Dyson appointed Astronomer Royal at Greenwich Royal Observatory.

1910 - 1936

1916: British Summer Time was introduced in the UK

1919: New Time Ball installed on Greenwich Royal Observatory

1933: Sir Harold Spencer Jones appointed Astronomer Royal at Greenwich Royal Observatory.

1936

1936 - 1952

1937: National Maritime Museum, established at Greenwich.

1952 - present

1954: Last observations at Royal Observatory in Greenwich.

1956: Sir Richard Woolley appointed Astronomer Royal.

1957: Cutty Sark open to public.

1958: Greenwich Royal Observatory moves to Herstmonceux.

1967: Francis Chichester arrives at Greenwich in Gipsy Moth IV and knighted by Queen Elizabeth II (using the same sword used by Queen Elizabeth I to knight Sir Francis Drake in 1582)

1967: Second bore of Blackwall Tunnel opens.

1972: Sir Martin Ryle appointed Astronomer Royal.

1972: Former Greenwich resident Poet Laureate Cecil Day-Lewis (1904 - 1972) died.

1981: First starts in Greenwich.

1982: Sir Francis Graham Smith appointed Astronomer Royal.

1982: Thames Barrier constructed.

1986: Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) replaces Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) as standard definition of time.

1990: Greenwich Royal Observatory moves to Cambridge

1991: Arnold Wolfendale appointed Astronomer Royal.

1997: HM Queen Elizabeth II arrives on the internet at

1998: Structure of Millennium Dome completed.

series People's Century features the life and times of ordinary people in the UK during this century. 

1999: Prince Andrew re-opens Royal Observatory at Greenwich

1999: Elizabeth II opens £20 million extension to National Maritime Museum