From a bridge in Bristol where the world’s first bungee jump took place, to a village in Gloucestershire where the first vaccine against smallpox is thought to have been produced, buildings and places across the South West have witnessed turning points that changed the country and the world.
As part of a new nationwide campaign, Irreplaceable: A History of England in 100 Places, Historic England, supported by specialist insurer Ecclesiastical, is calling on the public, history groups and experts in the South West to nominate other places where historic moments have happened, ensuring the region takes its proper place in telling England’s remarkable story.
Both organisations believe that historic sites in villages, towns and cities across the country have shaped England and are often still hotbeds of invention and creativity. These places bring our history to life; they hold a thread that runs between generations and they should be celebrated.
The year-long campaign will explore ten categories, from Science & Discovery and Homes & Gardens, to Music & Literature and Industry, Trade & Commerce.
Each category will focus on ten places which will be chosen from a long list of public nominations by expert judges, including Mary Beard, George Clarke, Tristram Hunt, Professor Lord Robert Winston and Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson.
The places that make the list will feature in a podcast series and a book, which will be produced as part of the campaign.
The South West poll findings: How much do we know about our history?
When asked to choose from a list, the majority of people in the South West (52%) correctly identified Gloucestershire as where Edward Jenner performed the first vaccination against smallpox in 1796 - above the national average of 42%.
More people in the South West (13%) than anywhere else in England (drawing only with the Midlands (13%)) said that the world's first bungee jump happened in Bristol from the Clifton Suspension Bridge in 1979 (the national average being 10%).
However, 90% of people in the South West did not know where the atom was first split, with 33% thinking it happened in Geneva, Switzerland and only 10% correctly identifying Manchester as the place where the notable scientist, Ernest Rutherford, made the discovery.
The poll also showed 88% of people in the South West did not know that the first pair of trainers were produced in Bolton, Greater Manchester (instead 42% chose Trenton, New Jersey, USA). In 1895, Joe Foster invented the running spike above his father’s sweet shop, and this is widely believed to have been the founding of the world’s favourite leisure footwear.
Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive of Historic England said: “By telling a history of England in 100 places, we want to help people understand the many places in our country that have shaped the world, creating advances in science, the arts, trade and industry. We are looking forward to people nominating places in the South West that will engender a sense of pride and are important to our national story. We’re hoping to uncover some hidden gems that can be celebrated and shared.”
Mark Hews, Chief Executive of Ecclesiastical Insurance Group, said: “As the leading insurer of some of the UK’s most important listed buildings and historic places, Ecclesiastical is proud to be trusted to protect so much of England’s irreplaceable heritage and delighted to support this campaign, which will unearth and celebrate the hidden gems in our nation’s story, including raising awareness of the historic hotspots of the South West.”