His visionary landscape designs brought Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown lasting fame, punctuating the natural environment to this day with serpentine rivers, rich woodland and palatial views. But what many people forget about Capability Brown, is that he also designed buildings and monuments within his commissioned landscapes. Surviving examples are rare and often protected by listing. Here are 5 of the structures he is less famous for. The Burton Pynsent Column, Somerset Sometimes referred to as the Cider Monument, the 140ft columnRead more
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Protected Parks and Gardens to Visit this Autumn
As the nights grow shorter and the leaves get crispier, here are some of the best parks and gardens to visit this Autumn. Read more
The life and landscapes of Humphry Repton
This Saturday marks 200 years since the death of Humphry Repton, the last great landscape designer of the Georgian era. Advising on some 400 schemes across a 27 year career, Repton filled the void left after the death of Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown in 1783, and linked the 18th century landscape tradition with the gardenesque movement of the early Victorian era. Early Life Much of Repton’s life and career played out in the East of England. He was born in BuryRead more
Early Colour Images of the English Garden
This month, we’re talking about the amazing English homes and gardens that represent or have witnessed some of the most important historic events.Read more
Ee ‘beer’ gum – it’s Yorkshire Day!
This Yorkshire Day we’re taking a tour of God’s own county’s beer brewing heritage.Read more
8 Last Minute Christmas Gifts For Heritage Lovers
We’ve picked a selection of our favourite heritage gifts for those with a passion for the past.Read more
It’s Love – actually!
Here at Historic England, we love heritage and we love our movies, so to celebrate Valentine’s day we thought we would look at some of the historic places that have provided a backdrop to some of our favourite romance films. Written by Paul Backhouse, Head of Imaging at Historic England. The Princess Bride Penshurst Place, Kent. Grade I listed. In the climactic scene of this timeless romance, Inogo Montoya utters the immortal lines “My name is Inigo Montoya. You killedRead more
6 Things You Should Know About Landscape Gardener William Shenstone
Three hundred years ago today William Shenstone was born at The Leasowes, his family farm in Dudley. The son of a moderately prosperous farmer, he was later to become a pioneering force changing the way we look at and experience gardens and landscapes.Read more
Just Listed: 20 Unusual Places given Protected Status this Year
From a sewer gas destructor lamp in Sheffield and a 1930s hairdresser in Scarborough to the traces of a Neolithic henge in Yorkshire and the Titanic band leader’s gravestone in Lancashire, Historic England has today published unusual highlights from the 510 places added to the National Heritage List for England in the past year. Here are some of our favourites:Read more
21 Amazing Places in England Recently Given Protected Status
1. Ennerdale, Cumbria. About 2000 BC to present Despite being clothed in over 1,200 hectares of coniferous plantations, the Ennerdale valley retains evidence for human occupation from the Bronze age through to the present day. New historic sites to have been identified include prehistoric cairnfields, numerous medieval settlements, and longhouses and an ironworking site. 2. Mere End Down Romano-British field system, Letcombe Bassett, Oxfordshire. AD 100 to 400 A fortuitous survival of earthworks representing a small part of a Romano-BritishRead more
