1953

1st June - 2nd June

 * Queen Elizabeth II is crowned at Westminster in London. The coronation is televised live, and as no one in the village of Llanfer Ceiriog has a television, the townsfolk travel by bus to Doctor Snape's house in Gwydyr to watch it on his set ("Cat's Cradle: Witch Mark").


 * The events of "The Idiot's Lantern" occur at this time.

Exact dates unknown

 * Arthur Miller's play The Crucible, based on the witch trials at Salem Village, is written. The First Doctor and his companions will see a production of the play in Bristol the following year ("The Witch Hunters").


 * Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart begins his military career ("Mawdryn Undead").

History of Doctor Who
The Quatermass Experiment written by Nigel Kneale airs on BBC Television, many of the ideas and situations in the serial were later used in Doctor Who.