Work began on the Palace of Westminster, the world’s first postage stamp was issued and children under the age of 21 were prohibited from being chimney sweeps.
Elsewhere, in Cambridge, a coachbuilder with a passion for wheels set up John Howes & Sons in Regent Street.
That was in 1840.
Now, 173 years on, John Howes & Sons – which has a claim to being the oldest cycle shop in England and once counted Charles Darwin among its customers – is set to close its doors for the final time.
John established himself as a coachbuilder and wheel-wright, before turning his attentions to bicycles to 1869.
The company has since changed its name to Howes Cycles, but has been based in Regent Street from 1840 until now.
John’s great-great-great-grandson Michael currently runs the shop, alongside his wife Pat. But they are set to retire together at the end of this month, with the shop’s three-century spanning lifetime set to go with them.
The 65-year-old admitted he was sad that the family business was coming to an end in a few weeks, but said “if your surname is not Howes then you are not taking over”.
Michael – who is the sixth-generation Howes to watch over the shop – took over from his father in 1970, having helped out around the place since he was a child.
A piece in the News in 1971, shortly after Michael took the reins, described how the owners had “a fetish for service and in the new premises they have set up a modern fully equipped workshop capable of undertaking repairs and service to any make of cycle”.
Speaking to the News yesterday he said he does not know what the future holds for either the shop or him and his wife.
They do not have any grand plans and would rather “let the world do to them what it will”.
Michael would not speculate as to how many bikes the shop had sent out into the world, though he does have a record of every bike they have ever sold.
In 1971 the News highlighted how the family were “determined to uphold the traditions established by their family ancestors”.
One hundred and seventy three years after the shop was founded, it appears Michael and Pat have done just that.
Progress me arse.
