During the 20th century a number of houses have been built for demonstration purposes as much as occupation. One idea that caught the public imagination was for an area of dwellings in a variety of designs that could be visited as a temporary exhibition. The purpose of such displays was often to show examples of well-designed, low-cost housing or showcase innovation in planning and building methods and materials. There were precedents for this kind of display but it was theRead more
Posts filed in: Your Home’s History
5 Innovative ways of living
How we create our homes and the spaces around them reflects our constantly evolving lifestyles, needs and social trends.Read more
6 Evocative Literary Locations
Many authors and the characters they created have lived in and loved England, evoking streetscapes, landscapes and buildings throughout their work.Read more
Coventry: A Journey Through Time
From the ruins of St Michaels Cathedral to the Black Princes Manor, with the bountiful gardens of Lady Herbert and the old Council Chambers, Coventry’s walls are brimming with history.Read more
The First Conservation Area
This month marks 50 years of conservation areas in England, and the biggest birthday party of all is in Stamford, Lincolnshire.Read more
From Factory to Fireside: 6 Marvellous Model Villages
The later years of the industrial revolution brought about a radical change in living conditions for a lucky few.Read more
Top Tips for Maintaining Your Listed Building
We take a look at 5 top tips for planning the maintenance and repair of your listed property.Read more
The First British Bungalow
Single storey dwellings under the name Bungalow have been around since the mid-19th century. The bungalow became both a symbol of bohemianism and the building type of choice for the aspiring upper middle class seeking an affordable second home in which to enjoy the new concept of ‘the weekend’. Dr Andy Brown, Planning Director at Historic England, takes us through the mysterious origins of the bungalow in Britain. The first modern British bungalows were designed by little-known English architect, JohnRead more
A Changing Climate: Water, Flooding and Historic Buildings
Water. We can’t live without it. Throughout history living near water has been important for almost every aspect of human life and for the resources and raw materials that rivers, lakes, wetlands and the sea provide. But living in close proximity to water is not without its challenges. In 2009 The Environment Agency estimated that 1 in 6 properties in England (5.2 million) were at risk of flooding. There are 1.8 million people currently living in areas at significant riskRead more
The Mysterious Case of the Witch Bottle
In the 16th and 17th centuries, many people believed in witchcraft, and blamed ill-fortune such as their crops failing or the death of a loved one on a witch’s curse. People would do anything to ward off an evil spirit, from creating counter-curses to marking their doorways to keep the witches out. Nowadays we enjoy stories of magic and witchcraft as a part of English folklore, knitted into the history of our historic places, many of which may still holdRead more
