Geology Site Account
London Borough of Waltham Forest, , The London Earthquake of 1750
In 1750, London suffered two earthquakes which caused damage to buildings over a wide area. The first, on 8th February, caused chimneys to be thrown down in the East End at Limehouse and Poplar but it was felt as far away as Hertford. The second shock, a month later on the 8th March, was more severe and tiles fell from houses as far away as Croydon. Two houses in Whitechapel fell, Westminster Abbey lost the top of one of its piers and, part of a roof at Lambeth collapsed. Chimneys were damaged over a wide area and at least two people were injured. In Essex it was reported that the first shock was felt at Woodford, Walthamstow, Epping and between Romford and Brentwood. The second was apparently felt at Ilford but not at Hornchurch.
Reference: Musson 1994 (pages 44,45 and 86), Meldola & White 1884 (pages 12¬13).
Geology Site Map
In 1750, London suffered two earthquakes which caused damage to buildings over a wide area. The first, on 8th February, caused chimneys to be thrown down in the East End at Limehouse and Poplar but it was felt as far away as Hertford. The second shock, a month later on the 8th March, was more severe and tiles fell from houses as far away as Croydon. Two houses in Whitechapel fell, Westminster Abbey lost the top of one of its piers and, part of a roof at Lambeth collapsed. Chimneys were damaged over a wide area and at least two people were injured. In Essex it was reported that the first shock was felt at Woodford, Walthamstow, Epping and between Romford and Brentwood. The second was apparently felt at Ilford but not at Hornchurch.
Although these were not large earthquakes (the Colchester Earthquake of 1884 caused far more damage) these events are of considerable importance as they demonstrate the existence of an active fault line directly underneath central London.
The most recent earthquake to be felt significantly in London was the Belgium Earthquake of 11th June 1938 which caused damage to thousands of buildings in Belgium and France.
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Reference: Musson 1994 (pages 44,45 and 86), Meldola & White 1884 (pages 12¬13).
Geology Site Map