Context
The very first Doctor Who story, set in 1963 London, introduces the Doctor, Susan, Ian, and Barbara.
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Historical Record
Late 1963 London experiences a cluster of anomalies centred on a school and a scrapyard. Teachers report unusual behaviour, intelligence services note unexplained power fluctuations, and a police box appears to be logged in places it should not be. The episode becomes an origin point for modern British ufology files: surveillance tails criss‑cross Coal Hill, and official interest quietly spikes in technologies far beyond contemporary capability.
Historically, 1963 matters because it seeds patterns: ordinary citizens witness the improbable, institutions struggle to classify it, and a discreet traveller intervenes just enough to steer events away from disaster. Archive notes reference a larger interior than exterior, unfamiliar readings, and a departure that leaves more questions than answers. The moment sets the tone for the decades to follow—London as a nexus, schools as flashpoints, and a recurring figure whose methods prioritise restraint, curiosity, and the minimum force required to keep history on the rails.
Related
FAQ
Q: When does An Unearthly Child take place?
A: An Unearthly Child happens in 1963 .