1065: Westminster Abbey was consecrated under Edward the Confessor.

1836: Spain recognised Mexico's independence.

1849: Dry-cleaning was put into practice for the first time by M Jolly-Bellin.

1869: Chewing-gum was patented by William Finley Semple.

1879: The central portion of Scotland's Tay Bridge collapsed, as the Edinburgh to Dundee train was crossing.

1895: The world's first public film show was held in Paris.

1950: The Peak District became Britain's first designated National Park.

1983: Dennis Wilson of The Beach Boys drowned while swimming from his boat in Marina Del Ray harbour in California.

1990: Diego Maradona headed the list of most heated people in an Italian newspaper. He beat Saddam Hussein, Madonna and George Bush to take the top spot.