On the morning of 7 June 1931, an earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale struck near a shallow stretch of sea known as Dogger Bank, 60 miles off the Yorkshire coast.
Although the earthquake’s epicentre was beneath the North Sea, its tremors rippled through eastern England. Chimneys crumbled in Hull and Bridlington, while people in Newcastle and Norfolk reported shaking furniture and swaying walls. Shocks from event were felt as far away as London and Paris. It was – and still is – the strongest earthquake ever recorded in the UK.
Remarkably, there were no direct fatalities from the quake, but one woman in Hull reportedly died of a heart attack brought on by the shock. It was a rare reminder that Britain, though far from tectonic hotspots, is not immune to seismic events.
- What's the hottest temperature ever recorded in the UK?
- The Great Storm of 1987: what happened and how did it change weather forecasting?
How common are earthquakes in the UK?
The British Geological Survey, which monitors earthquake activity, says the UK typically experiences between 200 and 300 earthquakes every year. Most go unnoticed, measuring less than 3.0 on the Richter scale.
Since the 1931 Dogger Bank earthquake, the UK has experienced other significant tremors, including a 5.4 magnitude earthquake near the Llyn Peninsula in Wales in 1984. But none have matched the strength of the Dogger Bank event.
Top image: Yorkshire coast. Credit: Getty
More amazing facts about the UK
