Interesting Historical Facts

The oldest dwelling-house in Britain is considered to be the Fighting Cocks Inn, which was built in the year 800. The inn itself was opened much later, in 1543.

The most ancient city in England is Chester.

The highest mountain on the British Isles is Ben Nevis, in Scotland.

There is one British island which has only one house on it: this is Jethou, one of the Channel Islands.

The narrowest street in Britain is Nelson Street in King’s Lynn, near Norfolk. Here you can shake hands through the window with your neighbor across the street.

The oldest working clock in the world is in Salisbury Cathedral, England. It dates from at least 1386.

The oldest watch was made of iron by P. Hell in Nurnberg, Germany, in 1504. Now the watch is in the Memorial Hall, Philadelphia, U.S.A.

The oldest university in the world is the Egyptian University of Azhar. It was established as an academy in 989. Subjects such as mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and geography were taught there at that time.

The oldest national flag is that of Denmark. The flag, with its white cross on a red field, was adopted in 1218.