For a long run, the city of London was known as The Big Smoke. This was not necessarily the result of the persistent rain and fog, but more from the vast amount of pollutants that emanated from coal-fired chimneys. The Industrial Revolution was brought in part by the burning of coal and it kept London warm for decades. Yet, the burning of coal created asthmatic conditions throughout the city and became acutely visible in early December 1952. For four days uniquely calm, cold weather combined with low-grade coal pollutants enveloped the city in a blinding toxic fog. The atmosphere killed thousands of people with weakened immune systems and set others on course for an early demise. The result was the Clean Air Acts of 1954 and 1968 which limited low-grade coal burning and offered financial subsidies for other methods of heating like gas and electricity. The era was a lesson on the environmental impact of fossil fuels that seems to have fallen on deaf ears in burgeoning parts of the world. Yet, the iron circular relics of the time are quite beautiful and are memorialized here with four coal plates still found outside the townhouses of London. This set includes a cover from E.P. Saxton, T. Sampson, Pearson’s and Shoreditch. Learn more about them from their custom set descriptions.

Make a stand by adding a display stand