Sep 14
Northern Rock Bank Run
Panicked depositors queued outside Northern Rock branches to withdraw savings — the first bank run in Britain since 1866. The bank was nationalized in February 2008. The financial crisis had arrived.
🇬🇧United Kingdom · 00s
Northern Rock and the iPhone
Queues formed outside Northern Rock, Gordon Brown moved into Number 10, and the iPhone changed everything.
What happened
5 milestones of 2007
Jun 27
Gordon Brown Becomes PM
Tony Blair resigned after 10 years. Gordon Brown finally moved into Number 10 without a leadership contest. He promised 'a new government with new priorities.' The honeymoon was brief.
May 3
Madeleine McCann Disappears
Three-year-old Madeleine McCann disappeared from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal. The case became the most heavily reported missing person case in modern history. She has never been found.
Missing child — extreme sensitivity, avoid speculation
Jul 1
Smoking Ban in England
Smoking was banned in all enclosed public places in England. Pubs emptied briefly, then adapted. Smokers gathered outside. The smell of British nightlife changed forever.
Jul 20
Summer Floods
The wettest summer in decades brought devastating floods across England. 55,000 homes were flooded. Tewkesbury was submerged. The army was deployed. Climate change felt very real.
What was playing
70% local · 30% international
What was in cinemas
Atonement
Joe Wright — Keira Knightley and James McAvoy. Dunkirk tracking shot. Stunning.
Hot Fuzz
Edgar Wright — Simon Pegg policing a village. 'The greater good.' Comedy gold.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
David Yates — The franchise darkens. Imelda Staunton as Umbridge.
Control
Anton Corbijn — Sam Riley as Ian Curtis. Joy Division biopic. Beautiful and tragic.
The Bourne Ultimatum
Paul Greengrass — British director. Matt Damon. Waterloo Station chase.
What was on TV
Skins
2007-2013 — Bristol teenagers. Drugs, sex, parties. E4 redefined teen drama.
The Inbetweeners
2008 prep — Coming-of-age comedy in development — would become massive.
Gavin & Stacey
2007-2010 — Essex meets Barry. James Corden and Ruth Jones. 'Lush!'
Doctor Who
2007 — Tennant's second series. Freema Agyeman as Martha Jones.
Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares
2004-2014 — Ramsay saved restaurants with swearing. Global format.
How much things cost
Currency: GBP
Pint of milk41p
Loaf of bread75p
Pint of bitter£2.55
Average house£186,032
Litre of petrol92p
iPhone£269
Inflation: 2.3%
Credit crunch beginning. Northern Rock queues shocked the nation. House prices peaked. The bubble was bursting.
Then vs. Now
Inflation-adjusted values
Pint of milkONS
2007 (GBP)
41p
→
Today's value (£)
--
Loaf of breadONS
2007 (GBP)
75p
→
Today's value (£)
--
Pint of bitterBBPA
2007 (GBP)
£2.55
→
Today's value (£)
--
Average houseONS
2007 (GBP)
£186,032
→
Today's value (£)
--
Litre of petrolAA
2007 (GBP)
92p
→
Today's value (£)
--
iPhoneApple
2007 (GBP)
£269
→
Today's value (£)
--
Technology
iPhone
Apple launched the iPhone — touchscreen smartphone that changed everything.
Facebook UK
Facebook opened to everyone — British users flooded in.
BBC iPlayer
BBC launched catch-up TV — watch what you want, when you want.
Kindle
Amazon's e-reader launched — digital books arrived.
Radiohead's pay-what-you-want
In Rainbows released online for whatever fans wanted to pay.
Pop Culture
Fashion
Indie fashion peaked — skinny jeans, Converse, vintageAmy Winehouse's retro soul look became iconicTopshop collaborations — high street meets high fashion
Slang
Banter— Playful teasing (becoming overused)
Ledge— Legend (abbreviation)
Sick— Excellent
Behavior
- Northern Rock queues showed the financial system could fail
- The smoking ban changed pub culture forever
- iPhone put the internet in everyone's pocket — the smartphone era began
Share
Download or share cards from this year
1200×630 · WhatsApp/Facebook