Latest news with #HistoricEngland
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
South East listed sites on Historic England interactive map
An interactive map has been launched to help people discover the history behind coastal landmarks in the South East and including Bexhill's De La Warr Pavillion, The King's Head Pub in Deal and The Western Bandstand in Brighton are among those featured on Historic England's Seaside Stories map, which launched on Thursday, aims to celebrate the history of seaside communities, Historic England Minister Baroness Fiona Twycross says the project will help to "preserve the history of our coastal towns and breathe new life into their future." The map charts all of the listed buildings on England's coastline, including 56 sites in Sussex and sites also on the map include Worthing Lido, Hastings Pier and Margate's Winter in the South East are being encouraged to submit photos and other memories of the landmarks included on the list to add to the archive of material about map has been designed as part of the Missing Pieces Project, which aims to highlight overlooked stories about England's cultural Wilson, chief executive of Historic England, said: "Our seaside places hold a special place in our national story, yet the full richness of their heritage cannot be captured without the first-hand accounts, images and memories of those who've experienced them."I encourage people to contribute to the Missing Pieces Project, so we can all help ensure these treasured coastal landmarks are celebrated."
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Lantern find may explain Southend 17th Century ship explosion
The remains of a scorched wooden lantern base retrieved from a 17th Century warship wreck may help explain what caused its explosion. The London blew up 360 years ago off the Essex coast near Southend-on-Sea and an astonishing array of well-preserved finds have been retrieved from it in recent resumed this month thanks to two companies that donated most of the £13,000 needed to replace the dive ship's condemned engine. The lantern base, candles and a wooden tool handle were among objects recovered since then, said Steve Ellis, one of Historic England's licensed divers. "Last year we found a wooden lantern top and while on our latest dive, we retrieved the base of a different wooden lantern and both have scorch marks," he said."They wouldn't have had glass, just wooden battens and, with the flame not being that secure and on a ship full of gunpowder, is this one of the reasons she blew up?"That's what I love about diving the wreck, the more you find, the more questions you ask - it's never boring." The warship is one of England's most important shipwrecks and is a Protected Wreck is being rapidly eroded because of its location at the end of the hugely busy Thames Estuary shipping also means seabed sediment is constantly being churned up, resulting in terrible visibility, "like diving in blancmange", Mr Ellis said."I came across some beef tallow or other animal fat candles, packed in threes, which felt like modern plastic," he exceptional find was a wooden handle. All the items will go to Historic England for conservation. The London was on its way to fight in the second Anglo-Dutch War in 1665, when it exploded while moored at The Nore in the Thames women and children, families of the sailors, were on board and the disaster was written about by diarist Samuel Ellis said the area the dive team was currently working on was "a bit more like the Mary Rose [a Tudor wreck], a brilliant time capsule, with complete boxes, complete bottles - everything seems to be in order". "Every dive brings us closer to understanding the lives, struggles, and stories of people of that era, before this information is washed away and lost forever," he added. The project was put at risk when the dive team's boat engine was condemned a few months Ellis said the dive team was "profoundly grateful" to DP World and Dive Master Insurance, which contributed £6,000 each towards a new engine, alongside £1,000 in public donations. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Times
The sky-high battle over the City of London's next skyscrapers
P lanning in the City of London has always been political. Even Sir Christopher Wren was forced to go back to the drawing board when his first iteration of St Paul's was knocked back by the authorities. Today the battle is not between the clergy, the monarchy and an upstart architect, but the Square Mile's governing body and Historic England. A simmering row between the two sparked into the open earlier this year when Lord Mendoza, the chair of Historic England, said there was a 'wonderful natural tension' between the City of London Corporation's go-go attitude to development and the objectives of his own organisation. To planners and officials in the corporation, the tension is anything but 'wonderful', and The Times understands frustration is growing with the heritage campaigners who planners are warning will make building in the city 'increasingly unsustainable.'
BBC News
4 days ago
- BBC News
Call for memories of Devon and Cornwall's seaside heritage
People in the South West have been asked to contribute their own memories to a project celebrating the UK's seaside heritage. Historic England has launched an interactive map featuring coastal landmarks to celebrate 300 years of seaside England said the new map included locations like Jubilee Pool in Penzance and Princess Gardens and Royal Terrace Gardens in Executive Duncan Wilson encouraged people to contribute memories to its Missing Pieces Project, "so we can all help ensure these treasured coastal landmarks are celebrated". Mr Wilson said: "Our seaside places hold a special place in our national story, yet the full richness of their heritage cannot be captured without the first-hand accounts, images and memories of those who've experienced them."People have been asked to submit photographs, drawings, written information or audio recordings "that hold personal significance" to the England said: "The Missing Pieces Project recognises that every person's connection to these historic places adds a unique dimension to their cultural importance, helping to build a more complete picture of England's cherished seaside heritage."Your view of a place is as unique as you are, so every snapshot and story you add is an important piece of the picture."
BBC News
5 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Fire at Grade II listed thatched home near Thrapston 'accidental'
A fire that devastated a Grade II listed thatched house started accidentally, a fire service said. Crews were called to Main Street in Aldwincle, near Thrapston, at about 14:00 BST on Sunday. Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service said 10 engines were called to the injuries were reported in the property, which was built in the early 1700s and used to be the Rose and Crown pub. The service said crews conducted inspections once the fire was out and then dampened down remaining hotspots."A fire investigation determined that the fire started accidentally," it added. Residents had been advised to keep doors and windows closed due to the England said the squared-coursed limestone building was built with a thatch in the early 18th Century. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
