In article ,
Dave Cornwell writes:
.......and 1880-1890 was one of the snowiest decades although the
previous one may have been more so, I only went back to 1880.

http://www.laindonweather.co.uk/Snow%20page.htm

I suspect there is no definition of "historic" in meteorological terms
but I think a generation, usually considered to be 25 years, would be
reasonable. After all if it's something you've not seen by the age of
25....
Dave

A very interesting chart. Any chance that you might update it to include
2008-9? I suspect that it would have been "snowy" and hence the decade
would have avoided the ignominy of coming last. The 1920s and 1930s are
both more snowy than I would have expected. In fact I'm stunned that the
1920s beats the 1980s, when there was notable snow in 1981-2, in some
parts in Feb 1983 (I think it was), 1985, Feb 1986 and Jan 1987.
--
John Hall
"I look upon it, that he who does not mind his belly,
will hardly mind anything else."
Dr Samuel Johnson (1709-84)