Heritage Highlights: Did You Know?
Heritage Highlights showcases some of the more unusual, intriguing and groundbreaking historic places protected through this country's designation system. We hope these entries from the National Heritage List for England will excite and inspire people about our past. Even the most seemingly ordinary places often have an extraordinary story to tell.
By browsing the entries below, you might discover the history behind a building in your local area, chance upon a topic you are studying at school, or even become your own historic detective!
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How Did the Birth of Television Make Sparks Fly at Alexandra Palace?
In the mid-1870s, a former dairy farm became the site of Alexandra Palace - a vast iron and glass structure, described as the 'People's Palace' and known affectionately as 'Ally Pally'.
Type of Designation: Listed Buildings, Registered Parks and Gardens
Region: London
Period: Victorian
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How Did Thimbles Help Thousands of Servicemen in the First World War?
The year 2015 marks many centenary anniversaries, from the 2nd Battle of Ypres to the landing of ANZAC troops at Gallipoli.
Type of Designation: Listed Buildings
Region: London
Period: 20th Century
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When Was the First School for Blind Pupils Established in Britain?
In 2013, we launched the 'Disability in Time and Place' project, which revealed how the built environment is linked to the stories of disabled people throughout history.
Type of Designation: Listed Buildings
Region: North West
Period: Victorian
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Which 'Grateful and United' Tenants Erected a Monument of Thanks to Their Landlord?
To the south of Alnwick town centre, near Alnwick Castle on the North East coast, rises a 25-metre Greek Doric column, guarded by four stone lions.
Type of Designation: Listed Buildings
Region: North East
Period: Georgian
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Did Thomas Cromwell Ever Live in Wolf Hall?
Wolf Hall Manor (also known as Wulfhall) in Wiltshire probably started off as a timber-framed, double courtyard house with a tower, which housed the Seymour family until the 1570s.
Type of Designation: Listed Buildings
Region: South West
Period: Tudors and Stuarts
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If Germany Had Invaded England in the Second World War, Who Would Have Fought Back?
Winston Churchill ordered preparations to be made for a secret resistance force to report on and agitate against any invasion force that might arrive.
Type of Designation: Scheduled Monuments
Region: South West
Period: 20th Century
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Whose Hut is Considered to be the Birthplace of Public Health?
Edward Jenner christened the rustic hut in which he developed his theory and carried out trials of his vaccine the 'Temple of Vaccinia', and he continued to use it to provide vaccinations to the poor of the district free of charge.
Type of Designation: Listed Buildings
Region: South West
Period: Georgian
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Where Did the Rice in Kellogg's Rice Krispies Come From?
In Liverpool's development as a port of world significance, the importing of various forms of foodstuffs was an important aspect of its growing pattern of trade.
Type of Designation: Listed Buildings
Region: North West
Period: Victorian
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Which Grade I Listed Bridge is Featured in J M W Turner's Painting 'Rain, Steam and Speed'?
Since 1839 Maidenhead Railway Bridge has carried trains across the Thames where it acts as a border between Berkshire and Buckinghamshire. The bridge was also heralded as a marvel by contemporary observers.
Type of Designation: Listed Buildings
Region: South East
Period: Victorian
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Which Building Feels Like an Elephant?
Records of buildings that resemble elephants are not as uncommon as you might think on the National Heritage List for England.
Type of Designation: Listed Buildings
Region: London
Period: 20th Century
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Where Was Britain's First Recorded Mosque?
The earliest recorded mosque in Britain was founded in a Liverpool terrace house in 1889.
Type of Designation: Listed Buildings
Region: North West
Period: Victorian
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Where is the Oldest Surviving Railway Tunnel in the World?
Buried under the modern tarmac is a tunnel built in 1793 by Benjamin Outram (1764-1805) as part of the Butterley Gangroad railway line.
Type of Designation: Scheduled Monuments
Region: East Midlands
Period: Georgian
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Why is There a Memorial to the 'Queen of the Desert' in Rural Yorkshire?
The Church of St Lawrence in East Routon is home to a memorial to the pioneer Gertrude Bell, whose life is portrayed in the film 'Queen of the Desert'.
Type of Designation: Listed Buildings
Region: Yorkshire
Period: Victorian