Making history

OSBORNE HOUSE, Queen Victoria’s summer residence on the Isle of Wight, is among the top 10 homes and gardens chosen by architect and television presenter George Clarke as part of Historic England’s Irreplacable: A History of England in 100 Places campaign. Launched this summer, it aims to bring greater recognition to historic sights that have witnessed or somehow been a part of English history’s seminal moments.

In 10 categories, such as Faith & Belief and Power, Protest & Progress, each with a presiding judge—including Baroness Tanni Grey-thompson, novelist Monica Ali, V&A director Tristram Hunt and Prof Mary Beard—the collection of 100 places is yet to be completed and English Heritage is encouraging the public to visit https://historicengland. org.uk/get-involved/100-places to nominate their suggestions. The chosen 10 for each category will be gradually announced between now and the summer.

Also included in Mr Clarke’s list is Birkenhead Park, which inspired New York’s Central Park—the American landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted noted that, in the Merseyside park, ‘the poorest British peasant is as free to enjoy it as the Queen’; the Almshouses at Hospital of St Cross in Winchester, established in 1132 and described as ‘the physical manifestation of human compassion’; model worker village Port Sunlight in the Wirral (above); and Windsor Castle, occupied by 39 monarchs since William the Conqueror.

All 10 places chosen by Mr Clarke can be explored in new episodes of the recently launched podcast series that accompanies the campaign, which is free to listen to on itunes.

‘The history of our homes and gardens is the story of how we and our ancestors lived and George Clarke has chosen 10 fascinating places in this category,’ says Duncan Wilson, Historic England’s chief executive. ‘From the earliest form of social housing to Brutalist streets in the sky, these 10 places play an important role in telling the social history of England.’