Historic England has added 19 new sites to its list of protected historic places in England, including a woodland anti-tank defense system built by the Home Guard during World War II. The "dragon's teeth", consisting of concrete pyramid-shaped obstacles, were designed to thwart Nazi tanks and are considered one of the best-preserved examples of wartime defenses in the UK.
The 1960s Renold building on the University of Manchester campus is another notable addition. Designed by architect WA Gibbon, it was the first purpose-built lecture theatre block in an English higher education institution, revolutionizing university design. The building has been listed at Grade II, recognizing its historical significance and innovative design.
Other unusual listings include a boathouse built by unemployed men for the Bournville radio sailing and model boat club in Birmingham, which showcases philanthropy and community spirit. A garden in Guisborough, created from 1934 for a brick industrialist, features a unique section filled with terracotta gnomes, pixies, and elves.
Historic England's list also includes the Enderby wharf submarine telephone cable hauler and gantry, which played a crucial role in the first successful transatlantic telephone cable. The site is now listed as a scheduled monument, acknowledging its importance to global communications history.
Additionally, the Pin Wreck, a 19th-century steam mooring lighter shipwreck off the Dorset coast, has been added to the list due to its exceptional rarity and archaeological significance. A prefabricated church in Littlebury Green, Essex, known as a tin tabernacle, rounds out the new additions, providing insight into a once common but now increasingly rare type of church design.
These diverse sites highlight the importance of Historic England's work in preserving the UK's rich cultural heritage, from wartime defenses to innovative architecture and unique gardens.
The 1960s Renold building on the University of Manchester campus is another notable addition. Designed by architect WA Gibbon, it was the first purpose-built lecture theatre block in an English higher education institution, revolutionizing university design. The building has been listed at Grade II, recognizing its historical significance and innovative design.
Other unusual listings include a boathouse built by unemployed men for the Bournville radio sailing and model boat club in Birmingham, which showcases philanthropy and community spirit. A garden in Guisborough, created from 1934 for a brick industrialist, features a unique section filled with terracotta gnomes, pixies, and elves.
Historic England's list also includes the Enderby wharf submarine telephone cable hauler and gantry, which played a crucial role in the first successful transatlantic telephone cable. The site is now listed as a scheduled monument, acknowledging its importance to global communications history.
Additionally, the Pin Wreck, a 19th-century steam mooring lighter shipwreck off the Dorset coast, has been added to the list due to its exceptional rarity and archaeological significance. A prefabricated church in Littlebury Green, Essex, known as a tin tabernacle, rounds out the new additions, providing insight into a once common but now increasingly rare type of church design.
These diverse sites highlight the importance of Historic England's work in preserving the UK's rich cultural heritage, from wartime defenses to innovative architecture and unique gardens.