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When you hear the words "pea soup", you probably think of, well, pea soup. But pea soup is also the name of a particular type of thick fog, and in the early 20th century London was literally drowning in it.

Also known as black fog or killer fog, it's caused by soot particles and poisonous sulfur dioxide produced by the burning of soft coal in homes and factories. The fog is potentially lethal, especially for the elderly and those with respiratory problems, and as you can see from these vintage photographs, there was no way to escape it. The choking pollution culminated in the Great Smog of 1952, and although the Clean Air Act was implemented just four years later, an estimated 12,000 people are believed to have died as a result of the hazardous air pollution. (h/t: vintage everyday)

#1

A Lamp Lighter At Work In Finsbury Park, London, 17 October 1935

A Lamp Lighter At Work In Finsbury Park, London, 17 October 1935

Topical Press Agency Report

#2

A Man Lighting His Pipe In Thick Fog Under The Arches At The Temple, London , 23 December 1935

A Man Lighting His Pipe In Thick Fog Under The Arches At The Temple, London , 23 December 1935

Arthur Tanner Report

#4

Lincoln’s Inn Fields, 24 January 1934

Lincoln’s Inn Fields, 24 January 1934

Fox Photos Report

#5

Central London, January 1936

Central London, January 1936

Lacey Report

#6

Westminster Bridge, 14 January 1955

Westminster Bridge, 14 January 1955

Topical Press Agency Report

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#7

National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, 1 December 1948

National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, 1 December 1948

Warburton Report

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helga-novelli avatar
Helga Novelli
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They knew how to decorate the Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square at that time!

#8

The Tower Of London, January 1947

The Tower Of London, January 1947

Fox Photos Report

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#9

An Iceman Delivers In The Fog, 1 October 1919

An Iceman Delivers In The Fog, 1 October 1919

Topical Press Agency Report

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#10

Liverpool St. Station, 29 January 1959

Liverpool St. Station, 29 January 1959

Edward Miller Report

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#11

Hyde Park Corner, 25 October 1938

Hyde Park Corner, 25 October 1938

Fox Photos Report

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#12

A Young Couple During The Great Smog, 1952

A Young Couple During The Great Smog, 1952

Report

#13

Barges Crowd Together At Hay's Wharf In Southwark, London, 26th October 1938

Barges Crowd Together At Hay's Wharf In Southwark, London, 26th October 1938

Topical Press Agency Report

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#15

Middle Temple, Inns Of Court, Circa 1950

Middle Temple, Inns Of Court, Circa 1950

Keystone Report

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#16

A Woman Leads A Car Through London's Regent's Park, 25 October 1938

A Woman Leads A Car Through London's Regent's Park, 25 October 1938

William Vanderson Report

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#17

A Family Feeding The Famous Pigeons In London's Trafalgar Square, 1952

A Family Feeding The Famous Pigeons In London's Trafalgar Square, 1952

M. Fresco Report

#18

Piccadilly Circus, 6 December 1952

Piccadilly Circus, 6 December 1952

Hulton Archive Report

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#19

Blackfriars, Mid-morning, 5 December 1952

Blackfriars, Mid-morning, 5 December 1952

Monty Fresco Report

#20

Ludgate Circus, 1 November 1922

Ludgate Circus, 1 November 1922

Topical Press Agency Report

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#21

Fleet Street, 1952

Fleet Street, 1952

Hulton Archive Report

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#22

Piccadilly Circus, 20 December 1956

Piccadilly Circus, 20 December 1956

Stone Report

#23

The Sun Comes Through At The Pool Of London, 26 October 1938

The Sun Comes Through At The Pool Of London, 26 October 1938

H. F. Davis Report

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#24

Trafalgar Square, In The Daytime, November 1927

Trafalgar Square, In The Daytime, November 1927

Fox Photos Report

#25

London Was Plunged Into Darkness From The Fog, 1952

London Was Plunged Into Darkness From The Fog, 1952

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#26

Blackfriars, In The Morning, 5 December 1952

Blackfriars, In The Morning, 5 December 1952

Don Price Report

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#27

A Bus Conductor Walks In Front Of His Vehicle, 9 December 1952

A Bus Conductor Walks In Front Of His Vehicle, 9 December 1952

Keystone Report

#28

Trafalgar Square, December, 1952

Trafalgar Square, December, 1952

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#29

A Policeman Wears A Mask For Protection Against The Smog, 1962

A Policeman Wears A Mask For Protection Against The Smog, 1962

Keystone Report

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#30

Regent St., 5 December 1962

Regent St., 5 December 1962

Peter King Report

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#31

Whitehall, 25 December 1937

Whitehall, 25 December 1937

Fred Morley Report

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