On 10 July 1958, the first parking meter in England was installed in London. The chage was 6d (2½p) an hour for the first two hours, ten shillings for the next two hours, and two pounds after that. Today, in London, Motorists pay an average of £7.99 for two hours.

Who invented the parking meter?

American, Carl C. Magee, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is generally credited with originating the parking meter. He filed for a patent for a "coin controlled parking meter" May 13, 1935.

First parking meter in the world

The first parking meter was installed in Magees home town, Oklahoma City, on 16 July 1935.

Parking meters today

Many of the 750,000 parking meters installed in Britain have now been replaced by:

• pay and display machines
• cashless meters operated via a mobile phone or credit card and/or
• pay-by-phone via text message quoting registration plate and parking bay number.
  

Also on this Day

10 July 1859 First Big Ben chimes
The chimes of the Big Ben bell were heard for the first time on this day in 1859.