Every year, Historic England announces the new buildings and places they add to their protection. As always, the list includes some insights into the fascinating history of the country.
The National Heritage List for England (NHLE) has added a total of 211 new listings, 34 new scheduled monuments and 11 parks and gardens.
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Alongside the new additions to the NHLE, Historic England have also highlighted 17 sites of note. These sites range from a brutalist church on top of a shopping centre to tombs dating back to the early 17th century.
“Historic England’s annual listing roundup is a celebration of 12 months of hard work to protect and preserve some truly unique buildings and places that have helped shape our cultural history,” says Sir Chris Bryant MP and Heritage Minister.
Here’s a rundown of some of our favourite new additions to the NHLE list:
Broadmead Baptist Church, Bristol
Before we delve into the old stuff, why not take a gander at this brutalist classic ahead of next year’s highly anticipated film The Brutalist. Built between 1967 and 1969 from architect Ronald H Sims, the Broadmead Baptist Church is unique in providing an income and football for the religious building through using the ground floor as retail.
The white V-shaped beams of the roof are symbolic of doves in flight and the journey through the building brings increasing light as you ascend through the floors. Conceived as a “Baptist cathedral of the West”, it remains a quiet space for shoppers today.
Toddington Fingerpost, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire
“Before the advent of sat-nav in Britain, drivers relied on signposts or fingerposts, especially at crossroads to help them find their way,” the NHLE writes.
This quirky signpost predates requirements to display road classification numbers and standardised design. Built at some point between 1902 and 1921, the fingerpost harks back to a time of artisanal folk artists building the signs of the area.
Browndown First World War Practice Trenches, Gosport, Hampshire
Thanks to aerial photos taken in 2011, a training site for World War One troops to practice trench warfare was rediscovered. These practice trenches have been surveyed and mapped by Historic England investigators.
“Mimicking sections of the Western Front, they provided ‘textbook’ training environments with at least 2 phases of trench digging with opposing frontlines and support trenches separated by a ‘no-man’s-land’. The Royal Marines Light Infantry and probably the Hampshire Regiment trained there before leaving for the Front via Southampton.”
Three tombs in Church of St Clements, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex
In this Essex churchyard there are three intriguing tombs, all with unusual stories behind them. The first is a 1609 tomb that commemorates a woman called Mary Ellis who is believed to live to 119 years old. If so, that would put her birth at latest to be the year 1490. Supposedly she died a virgin having never married.
The second tomb belongs to William Goodlad, a nationally famous whaler who charted many important British maritime routes, including a whaling trip to Norway. He has an elaborate tomb that dates back to 1639.
Finally, there’s the tomb of Mary Anna Haddock, whose elaborate 1688 tomb beside her father’s is notable as a rare example of a sole tomb dedicated to a woman in a time of gender inequality.
16 Warley Way, Frinton-on-Sea, Essex
Our fifth and final highlight comes back to the 20th century with an example of modernist domestic architecture. This open plan house was designed in 1934 by Oliver Hill and built the following year. Featuring curved lines and a focus on space and light, it presages many of the design trends of the past century.
