Latest news with #DuncanWilson
BBC News
6 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Medieval Upminster barn's thatched roof and repairs complete
Work to restore a 15th century thatched barn in Upminster, east London has been Barn, which dates back to about 1450 and is among the largest of its kind in England, fell into disrepair in recent years and was believed to be at risk of further master thatchers and two apprentices installed a new roof, using about 30 tonnes of water reed. The barn's ancient brickwork and oak frame was also England, which the led the project, said it was a "magnificent restoration" and the site was to have a variety of uses, with public access guaranteed under the grant conditions. The £750,000 project was largely funded by National Highways as part of an agreement it would support local initiatives following its plans to build a new tunnel under the Thames connecting Essex with Kent. Historic England said the restored building could safely be removed from a list of heritage sites it believes to be at risk of neglect, decay, or poor development. Duncan Wilson, chief executive of Historic England, said: "The magnificent restoration of Upminster Tithe Barn demonstrates the powerful benefits of working together to protect our irreplaceable heritage and delivery of positive outcomes for people and communities alike."However, further funding is needed for a heating system and toilets so that the building can be widely used by the public, Historic England building has used in recent years as a museum displaying local historic artefacts, but it has not been confirmed precisely how it will be used in the future. According to Historic England, Tithe Barn was built during the reign of King Henry VI, at a time when England was in the midst of an economic crisis known as the Great Slump, which partly led to the subsequent civil war between the Houses of Lancaster and with oak felled between 1420 and 1440, it originally formed part of the Waltham Abbey estate in Epping, at a time when the area was open is one of the earliest surviving buildings in the London Borough of Havering and is now a "scheduled monument", meaning it has a high level of protection and is considered a nationally significant 44m (144.4ft) long, Tithe Barn is one of the largest thatched barns in is now owned by Havering Council.
BBC News
21-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Historical photographs of on display in new hub
Historical photographs and stories of the South East feature in a new digital archive 400 locations across every county, city, district and major town in England feature on dedicated pages of Historic England's Local Heritage service, which launched on Wednesday, will be added to over time, aiming to make local histories more relevant, relatable and engaging, Historic England Foxall, regional director for London and the South East, said: "Within every place there is something really remarkable that has changed and influenced the region we see today." He added: "The sheer amount of important local history and heritage in London and the South East can often be hidden by its incredible volume."I look forward to seeing what local heritage gems grab people's attention, and how the Local Heritage Hub continues to grow and develop." The hub will offer content including aerial photographs, curated selections of listed buildings, videos, blogs and Wilson, chief executive of Historic Englan: "Understanding and connecting with local heritage is an important part of building strong communities."
BBC News
16-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Plymouth football pioneer Jack Leslie celebrated with blue plaque
Historic England is due to unveil a blue plaque at the former home of groundbreaking black footballer Jack event at 8 Glendower Road in Plymouth later marks the 100th anniversary of Leslie's call-up as a reserve for the England squad in October was the first black player to be called up for England, but his name disappeared from the team sheet because of his skin colour. His career at Plymouth Argyle FC was distinguished by his remarkable skills as a striker, scoring 137 goals in 401 appearances. Historic England chief executive Duncan Wilson said: "Jack Leslie's story is one of talent, resilience, and breaking barriers."This plaque ensures his legacy is remembered and celebrated."Reflecting on the honour of being selected for England, Leslie once said: "Everybody in the club knew about it. "The town was full of it. I was proud, but then I was proud just to be a paid footballer." Leslie rarely missed a game for Argyle and was joint top scorer in the 1928-29 season with 22 10 March 1928, he was given the captain's armband in an away match against final two seasons as a professional footballer were overshadowed by an injury to his eye which forced him to miss much of the 1933-34 season. He struggled to regain his old form and played his final match in April 1935. Soon after his retirement from football, Leslie took on the tenancy of the Swan Inn in Truro, Cornwall, which he ran until 1938. Later that year, Leslie and his family moved to east London. Leslie worked as a boilermaker, riveter and plater in the East India Docks until his retirement in 1966. At the suggestion of his daughter Evelyn, Leslie then found a part-time job cleaning boots and sweeping terraces at West Ham United's stadium Upton Park, near his home in East Ham. In 1978, Leslie was interviewed by the Daily Mail and reflected on his career and the racism he encountered. In October 1982, he was honoured with a brief ceremony before the match at Upton Park to mark his retirement from the West Ham boot Wilson said: "Leslie's story is not only about football; it is a testament to his resilience in the face of racism. "While he never played for his country, Leslie's story serves as an inspiration for current generations, to continue to challenge racial boundaries in sport." 'True trailblazer' Heritage minister Baroness Twycross said: "Jack Leslie's blue plaque celebrates his life and inspirational achievements during his career as a talented footballer. "This plaque will serve as a reminder of his remarkable talent, resilience, and contribution to the game."Plymouth City Council's deputy leader, Jemima Laing, said it was an "important moment in celebrating Plymouth's rich local history and the remarkable achievements of Jack Leslie"."His legacy goes far beyond the football pitch and it's wonderful to see him getting the recognition he was once denied but certainly deserves," she Elliott, co-founder of anti-discrimination group Kick It Out, said Leslie was a "true trailblazer of our game, a player of outstanding talent who broke down barriers and helped shape the history of English football"."This blue plaque not only honours his achievements on the pitch but also recognises his wider contribution to society and tackling discrimination off it," he said.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Blue plaque honour for first black footballer called up by England
The remarkable career of the first black footballer to receive an England call-up is to be honoured with a national blue plaque. John 'Jack' Leslie, who scored 137 goals in 400 appearances for Plymouth Argyle between 1921 and 1934, was called up to the national team in 1925. But the inside-left (support striker) would be denied an England appearance because of the colour of his skin after selectors discovered his heritage. The Argyle favourite died in 1988 and the plaque is being unveiled in his adopted home town of Plymouth. The unveiling marks Leslie's footballing talent and celebrates the 100th anniversary year of his call-up as a reserve for the England squad in October 1925. Though this honour was rescinded shortly afterwards, Leslie's resilience in continuing to excel at Plymouth Argyle and his significance in the history of English football has more recently been acknowledged and celebrated. The new blue plaque will be unveiled at 8 Glendower Road in Plymouth where he lived with his family during the heyday of his career. The inscription on the plaque reads: JOHN 'JACK' LESLIE 1901 – 1988 Captain of Plymouth Argyle FC and the first Black footballer selected for England lived here. The unveiling will be led by Historic England's chief executive Duncan Wilson, alongside Leslie's granddaughters Lesley Hiscott, Gillian Carter and Lyn Davies. In the history of black players in English football, Leslie was preceded by pioneering footballers such as Arthur Wharton, Walter Tull and Fred Corbett who had played for league teams before the First World War. Among his contemporaries was Eddie Parris, who won a cap for Wales in 1931. Following Leslie's call-up in 1925, another 53 years passed before Viv Anderson became the first black player to play for England in 1978. Three years ago, the FA presented his family with a posthumous cap and acknowledged that retraction of his call-up 'should never have happened'. After retiring from football, Leslie moved to east London and worked in the docks until his retirement. He later got a part-time job cleaning boots and sweeping terraces at West Ham United's stadium Upton Park. In recent years, The Jack Leslie Campaign succeeded in raising £140,000 to erect a bronze statue to him outside Plymouth Argyle's Home Park. Leslie's granddaughters said: 'We feel honoured as members of Jack Leslie's family that a blue plaque is being unveiled in recognition of his achievements. 'Our grandad made a major contribution to the history of not only football but the integration of black people into our communities. 'He was a true trailblazer, and we will always be immensely proud of him.' Duncan Wilson, chief executive of Historic England, said: 'Leslie's story is not only about football, it is a testament to his resilience in the face of racism. 'The first black footballer called up to the England squad, Leslie's call-up was rescinded, which seemed to be due to the racial prejudices of the time. 'While he never played for his country, Leslie's story serves as an inspiration for current generations, to continue to challenge racial boundaries in sport. 'We hope this blue plaque helps celebrate his achievements and inspires future generations.' Matt Tiller and Greg Foxsmith, co-founders of The Jack Leslie Campaign, added: '100 years ago, Plymouth Argyle's Jack Leslie was a young newlywed with the world at his feet. 'He walked from this house to Home Park where he was given the fantastic news that is so significant in the history of our national sport. 'Jack had been picked for England, the first player of colour to be selected. 'He returned to Glendower Road to share that achievement with his new wife, Win. 'And it was here that he would later have to deal with that dream being snatched away. 'But he bounced back, helping Argyle win promotion and becoming team captain. 'It also became a family home after his daughter Evelyn came along in 1927. 'It is a wonderful moment to see Jack recognised and celebrated here with a blue plaque.'
BBC News
14-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Protected status for York's medieval Jewish cemetery site
The site of a rare medieval Jewish cemetery which is to be found underneath a car park has been granted protected cemetery in York, known as Jewbury, has been designated a Scheduled Monument, meaning any future development plans for the area would need to consider the archaeological significance of the lies just outside York's city walls at the site of the Foss Bank car park and was thought to be one of England's first and largest medieval Jewish Wilson, chief executive of Historic England, said: "Medieval Jewish cemeteries are very rare, with only 10 having been positively identified in England, and none are as extensively understood as this one." In the early 1980s, the remains of almost 500 individuals were excavated and removed from the site for study, while about 50% of its graves remained 1984, the remains were reinterred in a plot on the south side of the site, in the presence of the then Chief Rabbi, Lord Jakobovitz. Rabbi Dovid Lichtig, from the Interlink Foundation, said: "The location was unknown, the car park was presumably placed when there were no markings."According to Historic England, the cemetery "provides critical insight into York's medieval Jewish population".That was "particularly significant given the 1190 massacre at Clifford's Tower, and the expulsion of all Jews from England a century later, in 1290", a spokesperson site of Jewbury was also important to British Jews, who objected to the cemetery being disturbed in the early 1980s when the land was being Lichtig said: "People do visit the cemetery. I don't think it's a go-to location, simply because it hasn't been preserved as such."I think work will have to go into changing that."The Historic England spokesperson said the importance of the site had been carefully considered in determining the scheduling application for scheduling Jewbury was prompted by planning discussions for a mixed-use redevelopment scheme at the site. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
