Historic England

The Historic England Archive holds over 14 million photos of the historic environment. Our photos also show many aspects of life, from education and employment to leisure and transport. If you zoom into this image, for example, you will see a sign in the shop window reading 'hair bought', presumably one of the options for the people of Bristol in hard times. These buildings were demolished in 1871. 📍 R. Holloway, Dealer in Marine Stores at the corner of Trenchard and Colston Streets, Bristol in 1866.

Did you know you can add a heat pump and solar panels to an older home? 🏡 We recently followed Future Fit Homes on their journey of installing a heat pump, solar panels, and a battery in a Victorian two-bedroom terrace. Find out more: ➡️ https://lnkd.in/en4ECh3M

Who loves a timber-framed building? 🙌 Tewkesbury Museum in Gloucestershire dates back to the 17th century, when it was likely built as a merchant’s house. It was later split into 2 houses, and it has been used as a local museum since 1962. Its collections feature items from prehistory to the present day, exploring the history of Tewkesbury and the surrounding area. The museum holds objects from Battle of Tewkesbury in 1471, which was one of the most decisive battles of the Wars of the Roses, as well as items relating to Antarctic explorer Raymond Priestley.

Heritage on prescription can make a powerful difference to people’s lives. 🙌 We funded the Restoration Trust's pioneering 'Heritage Linkworker' project, which connects people to historic sites in their area. The project resulted in 60% of participants having an increased mental health score and 28% decreasing their medication usage. We’re committed to supporting closer working between heritage and healthcare providers to realise the benefits of heritage in social prescribing. Find out more: ➡️ https://lnkd.in/etpJDWEi #SocialPrescribingDay

North Lees Hall in Derbyshire is said to have inspired Charlotte Brontë's most famous novel, Jane Eyre. 🖋️ Brontë visited the 16th-century ancestral home of the real life Eyre family in 1845, using it as a model for Mr Rochester's Thornfield Hall. Charlotte Brontë used a male pseudonym to increase the likelihood of Jane Eyre being accepted for publication. It was published in 1847 and became a commercial success. In 1848, she revealed her pseudonym and by the following year, the Brontë sisters were being celebrated in London’s literary circles. Today the Hall is managed by the Peak District National Park and is let as a residential property. Happy Women's History Month! 🎈

Great news! This rare and little altered boathouse and boating lake has been listed as Grade II. 👏 Bournville Model Yachting Club, now known as Bournville Radio Sailing and Model Boat Club, was founded in 1923, and originally also included a boat repair shop, a model railway, and a flag station. Famed local chocolatiers, the Cadbury family, known for their philanthropy and concern for employee welfare, hired 64 men who were ineligible for state benefit due to the length of their unemployment, to carry out the build of the boathouse and boating lake. The men worked on the project four days a week. On the remaining day of the working week they were to attend an occupational class such as carpentry or gardening under the supervision of the Bournville works Education Department. The aim was to provide the men with work whilst they sought long-term employment.

Since 2020, our High Streets Heritage Action Zone programme has worked with communities to help revive historic high streets and explore new ways to invest in town centres. ✨ 723 historic buildings and 462 shopfronts have been repaired, with many unused spaces brought back into use. 🎭 1,695 public events, 592 school activities, and 336 artworks have celebrated local culture and identity. 🤝 Volunteers and trainees have dedicated thousands of hours to revitalising their high streets. 📈 Over 700 jobs were created and £140 million in additional investment was secured. Heritage isn’t just about the past. It’s a catalyst for a thriving future. Find out more: ➡️ https://lnkd.in/dH57pCCh Arts Council England The National Lottery Heritage Fund

Turkish Baths were common in Victorian times, but only several remain, dating back to the 19th century. 💧 The Royal Baths in Harrogate feature walls of vibrant glazed brickwork, arabesque-painted ceilings, and terrazzo floors. The baths were popular with Royal families worldwide and a particular favourite of Queen Victoria's granddaughters. Let us know if you've experienced Turkish baths. 🛁

Do you recognise this view? 👀 This photograph from 1947 looks through the archway under number 14 Tombland in Norwich, Norfolk. The house was built in the mid 16th century for Augustine Steward, a former mayor of the city. In the distance is the 15th century Erpingham Gate, into the cathedral precinct and the west front of Norwich Cathedral.

Just before the Second World War started, the Government Code and Cipher School needed a safe, secret place away from London, so they relocated to Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire. Simple huts were built on the grounds and it was in Hut 8 that mathematician Alan Turing’s Bombe machine played a key role in cracking the Enigma code. The incredible efforts of thousands of people at Bletchley, 3/4 of them women, helped shorten the war by an estimated 2 to 4 years, saving countless lives in the process.