Visit Heritage Blog

One thing we Brits do better than anyone else is castles, there are a whole host of incredible castles, some fully intact, some in ruins but all with amazing stories hidden behind those walls.

As 19^th September is Talk Like a Pirate Day, we thought we would talk a little about Britain’s history of piracy and introduce you to some of the nation’s most infamous and feared pirates.

The official blue plaque scheme which celebrates historical figures could be expanded to cover the whole of the UK rather than just London.

England’s biggest festival of history and heritage is back this September from 8^th – 17^th September, with the theme of Creativity Unwrapped.

The Museum of London’s new exhibition which focuses on the Great Fire of London, reveals the name of the man who raised the alarm and other ordinary people who were caught up in the blaze.

Thirlestane Castle is delighted to be extending its season of guided tours due to demand through 2023. They have opened their doors to thousands of visitors from across the UK and around the world this year and hope to welcome even more by continuing to offer daily tours for an additional four weeks. 

The country’s largest festival of history and culture returns this September with a packed programme of free events with the theme of Creativity Unwrapped. Brought to you by the National Trust, support by the People’s Postcode Lottery and run by thousands of organisations and volunteers, Heritage Open Days bring people together to celebrate history, heritage and community.

While it is probably best known for being the birthplace of The Beatles, there’s a lot more to Liverpool’s history. It has a wealth of maritime history, is a centre of world trade and has long been a hive of culture and heritage.

This quote from the Hindu text Bhagavad-Gita is now more likely to be associated with J Robert Oppenheimer than religious doctrine after Oppenheimer, the head of the now infamous Manhattan Project, spoke the words aloud following the testing of a nuclear bomb that would go on to change the world. His creations were dropped on Japan 78 years ago this month, causing mass destruction and officially ending WWII.

Throughout August, English Heritage are offering adults the opportunity to dress up at their properties across the nation as part of new research that suggests that our imaginations increase with age.

This year Houghton Lodge Gardens is celebrating its 230^th anniversary with special events.  Bridgerton Bliss: A Regency Afternoon of Tea, Tunes and Twirls will be held on 6 August from 12.30pm to 5pm and is a great opportunity to travel back in time and experience the magic of Regency England.    With dancing, promenading, music and afternoon tea or picnics this will be a unique event for the region, celebrating the anniversary and the Regency heritage of the historic house and grounds.

There have been many horrific tales through history, from gruesome medical practices to bizarre punishments and even some very questionable cleaning habits. Today we will be looking at the horrific history of mental health care in Britain through the ages and the history of Britain’s asylums. Though mental health care is still something to be desired in the UK, at least things have progressed since the days of leeches and cold showers!