Historic places

Historic places

Huge Napoleonic prisoner of war camp buried under Cambridgeshire field to open to public 

Norman Cross Depot housed around 7,000 French prisoners during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars – soon the public will be able visit the little-known historic site following its successful acquisition for the nation.
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These 10 groundbreaking Historic England projects have revealed fascinating details about Britain’s past

Discover how archaeologists, conservationists and geophysicists at Historic England are piecing together the past – one burial, shipwreck and dinosaur sculpture at a time
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Where does the King live? From royal palaces to private residences here's where the monarch calls home. There's even a Transylvanian retreat.

Where does the King actually live? We take a look at King Charles III's property portfolio and where he likes to spend his time off-duty
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‘Deliberately flooded’ village emerges from reservoir after drought reveals its eerie outlines – including dry stone walls and roads

The driest spring in England for over a century has revealed a 'drowned' Cumbrian village
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This Roman massacre is a myth, say scientists. Here's what actually happened

New research has debunked a legendary Roman massacre at Maiden Castle in Dorset. So, who were the true killers?
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This iconic stately home is holding a Regency festival to celebrate its literary connection – including a summer ball

Discover the history behind the Grade I-listed Chatsworth House and what it's famous for – as well as its Jane Austen connection
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The story of the Sycamore Gap tree – and what happened after it was felled

For 200 years, a sycamore tree stood in a dip in Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland National Park – until it was felled in an act of vandalism in 2023.
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The last castle to be built in England looks like it was created on Minecraft: Castle Drogo, a modern medieval oddity

Castle Drogo is a curious blend of modern engineering and medieval fantasy – a granite castle with flat roofs, hydroelectric power, and a story as surprising as its architecture
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What's the most common street name in Britain?

Station Road, Main Street, Green Lane – these are all common names for streets and roads in Britain. But according to Ordnance Survey data, none of them take top spot...
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Walk in the footsteps of our wartime heroes and visit the best World War II museums in the UK – and the world

Learn about life on the Home Front during World War II and how the Allies eventually overcame the might of the German Army with these fascinating museums in the UK and across the world.
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How many palaces are there in the UK?

The UK is home to a remarkable range of palaces – from working royal homes and archbishops’ residences to grand estates and long-lost halls of power. But how many are there in the UK in total?
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Bloody, brutal battles and border castles: The secrets of the savage frontier between England and Wales

Bloodshed, battles, barons and brutality – the sleepy hinterland of the Welsh Marches belies a turbulent history. Mark Hillsdon explores the romantic ruins that remember more troubled times
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Once home to Nazi prisoners: The grim reality of life inside one of Britain's former WW2 prisoner of war camps.

During the Second World War, British camps across the country housed as many as 400,000 captured foreign soldiers. Dixe Wills visits Eden Camp in North Yorkshire, a restored camp that recreates the wartime experience of enemy prisoners
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10 epic battles fought on British soil that changed Britain's history forever

From the Isles of Scilly to the Scottish Highlands, Britain is dotted with hundreds of battlefields. Julian Humphrys picks 10 that shaped the nation's history
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Inside Anthrax Island: the Scottish isle of death you’ll never be able to visit

In an attempt to turn the tide against the Nazis in World War II, Winston Churchill commissioned a top secret MoD project on Gruinard.
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Why are they called kissing gates – and why do you have to stop to kiss when you reach one?

You've probably had to go through a kissing gate on a walk, but have you ever wondered how they got their name?
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William Wordsworth's stunning Lake District home is for sale – so you could own and live in a little piece of literary history

Rydal Mount and Gardens has previously been run as a successful business, but there's no reason you couldn't live in this exciting piece of literary history
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How a small, charming English town, set at the foot of beautiful hills, gave the world Narnia, hobbits, Middle Earth and Nimrod

Discover the dramatic range of hills that inspired CS Lewis, JRR Tolkien and Edward Elgar to create some of the greatest works in the English canon
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Smalls Lighthouse Tragedy: The gruesome and bizarre crisis that changed Britain’s lighthouses forever

In the nineteenth century, a macabre incident occurred on a remote lighthouse off the Welsh coast. It would change the way these beacons were managed to ensure it never happened again.
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25 for 2025: Fill your summer with exciting outdoor adventures and challenges, from shark spotting to conquering fears

Expand your horizons with our pick of the best outdoor adventures.
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10 epic castles for sale right now, including one linked to the Gunpowder Plotters and one with a 10,000 wine bottle cellar

Fancy an enormous acreage, stables, farmland and helicopter landing pad? Feast your eyes on some of these castles currently for sale on the UK housing market
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"I resented the injustice of English policy" – a new immersive attraction in Cornwall shines light on anti-war activist Emily Hobhouse

A visit to the Story of Emily in Cornwall is a great way to mark International Women's Day on 8 March.
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What is a trig point? Discover the secrets behind these odd pillars that dot the UK countryside

There are thousands of trig points all over the UK – but who built them, and for what purpose?
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