These are the most captivating protected heritage sites in England in 2021
Highlights include a submarine and a 1930s police box
Last updated 27th May 2022
The list of the most captivating heritage sites in England in 2021 have been revealed by Historic England.
Nearly 300 different sites were added to the National Heritage list of protected sites in England.
In celebration of the sites that have been granted protected status, Historic England has shared some of the most charming spots in the country, encouraging others to discover some of the many sites local to them.
Speaking about the additions, Chief Executive of Historic England, Duncan Wilson, said: “The additional places protected this year shows the diversity of our country’s shared heritage, from arts and crafts houses and windmills to historic mud walls and 20th century office blocks.
"These wonderful historic sites are now protected for future generations, and we encourage people to apply for listing, or share their photos and videos of listed sites, through our website.”
HMS/m D1
HMS/m D1, the prototype for the D-class submarine, was the first British submarine designed for the Royal Navy in 1909 and also served in the First World War. Its design was a great leap forward as it was the first diesel powered submarine and the first to be fitted with wireless telephony. It is now a rare survival of a pre-1914 submarine, and is a scheduled monument.
Shoreham Memorial Cross, Sevenoaks, Kent
The Shoreham Memorial Cross, Sevenoaks in Kent, was made for a father named Samuel Cheeseman, who was a Shoreham resident that lost two sons in the First World War. It was a permanent testament to all those from the parish who lost their lives in the First World War. It is also a scheduled monument.
Roman Catholic Church of St Boniface, Southampton
Roman Catholic Church of St Boniface in Southampton is known as "an inter-war church in elaborate Neo-Byzantine style" designed by Wilfred Mangan. It was created in 1927 and the church has since been listed at Grade II as a good example of his working. Inside the church include internal features such as elaborate marble fixtures and good-quality carpentry.
Selby Canal Tunnels, North Yorkshire
The Selby Canal Tunnels in North Yorkshire is an "Ingenious 18th-century canal tunnels created to stop flooding". Listed at a Grade II, it was created in 1778 by engineer William Jessop for the Aire and Calder Navigation Company. The Selby canal is six miles long and sees 2,000 boats using the canal each year.
Skerne Railway Bridge, Darlington, County Durham
Skerne railway bridge, Darlington in County Durham is listed Grade I, built for the opening of the Stockton & Darlington Railway in 1825. It is thought to be the oldest railway bridge carrying regular passenger trains in the world! It was also the image that was featured on the five pound note in the 1990s.
Lelly Windmill, East Riding of Yorkshire
The Lelley Windmill, Elstronwick in the East Riding of Yorkshire was upgraded to Grade II*, with its six-storey brick-built tower with sliding sash windows. The original milling machinery was adapted to be operated by steam power, and is now seen to encapsulate "the impact of the industrial revolution on small-scale rural industry in Yorkshire."
The Brown Jug, Broadstairs, Kent
The Brown Jug public house, Broadstairs in Kent is listed at Grade II as it's known as "a much-loved pub, converted from an 18th century farm cottage and serving drinks to locals for more than 200 years". The building has in fact seen multiple phases of development which are visible in its surviving historic fabric.
Ingleby Barwick Roman Villa remains
The final remains of Romano-British Villa, Ingleby Barwick in North Yorkshire is "one of the northern-most villas of the Roman Empire that have been identified to-date". The site retains important evidence of continuity and change over at least five centuries.
Submarine Memorial Chapel of St. Nicholas, Gosport, Hampshire
The Submarine Memorial Chapel of St Nicholas, Fort Blockhouse, in Hampshire has been listed Grade II. Its an 18th century artillery fort and 20th century submarine base, a location central to the defence of Portsmouth Harbour over many centuries. It is exceptionally rare as a chapel built in England, specifically to serve as a memorial to submariners and this chapel is dedicated to St Nicholas, known as the patron saint of sailors.
Ingleberg, Beckermet, Cumbria
A detached Victorian villa in Beckermet, Cumbria - listed at Grade II, has interiors and decoration that have survived virtually intact since they were created in 1900. Even the four panel doors to picture rails, and skirting boards survived! It was built for the Robley family in 1900, and in its 120-year history, it has only been occupied by the Robleys and one other family, the Tuohys.
22 Shad Thames, London
Situated in the heart of London, this block of offices may not particularly outstanding. However, Historic England notes the "a mix of 'High-Tech' cladding, as well as high-specification glazing, distinctive lead panelling and a stair tower constructed of bolted steel plates", that highlights the great care that designer David Mellor took to give the building a sleek feel.
Mud Walls, Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire
While the exterior of the walls might not seem particularly of note, the hidden history behind the mud walls in Cambridgeshire is astounding. In order to avoid the tax on bricks and tiles imposed at the time of the construction, locals in the area cleverly came up with an inventive way to demarcate houses and boundaries.
Church of All Saints and Martyrs, Rochdale
The Church of All Saints and Martyrs is a progressive Anglian church, built in the 1960s to accommodate a relocated community in the wake of World War II. In the following years, the church would go on to host a piece from renowned sculptor Geoffrey Clarke, which it still holds to this day.
Market Harborough Ambulance Station, Leicestershire
The Market Harborough Ambulance Station was built in 1924 for the sole purpose of transporting patients to local hospitals. Its construction coincided with the early days of mobilised ambulance provision before it was mandated in 1946, under the National Health Service Act.
Police Box, Newtown Linford, Leicestershire
This unusually-located police box is a rare preservation of the original police kiosks that spread across the country in the 20th century. The box was moved to Newton Linford in 1952 and served as the inspiration for the design of the Tardis, which would feature in the sci-fi show Doctor Who.
Former Picture Palace, Prescot, Merseyside
This former cinema also acted as a variety theatre and was created with the remodelling of two townhouses built in the 19th century. The home of The Prescot Picture Palace Company Limited, the theatre was one of the earliest buildings to hold "cine-variety" events. The Palace remains one of the oldest surviving theatres of its kind.
The Dome, Mildenhall, Suffolk
The Dome Sports Hall was built in 1977 using a revolutionary technique called the Bini system; whereby a giant balloon was inflated and covered in concrete in order to build a structure in one day. The iconic aesthetic of the hall meant it was granted a Grade II listing this year.
Windleshaw House, Withyham, East Sussex
Located on the sunny south coast, Windleshaw House was designed and built by artist William Benson for his own use. The building also doubled up as a bespoke house for arts and crafts. The Grade II listing it has been awarded is that it is "one of the finest surviving houses by the architect".
Brook Cottage, Ozleworth Valley, Gloucestershire
Former home of acclaimed poet Charles Tomlinson, Brook Cottage provides an insight into a local worker's home. Built with local Cotswold stone, iron and timber, Brook Cottage still holds many of the original materials from when the house was originally built in the 19th century.
The Fosse Way Bridge, Gloucestershire
The Fosse Way Bridge is an unchanged bridge in the heart of the Cotswolds, comprising of one single arch. Made of Cotswolds limestone, the bridge acted as a packhorse bridge across the River Avon. The bridge was built by skilled stonemasons in the area and provided important trade along the ancient Roman 'Fosse Way'.
The Old Blacksmith's Shop, Knighton, Wiltshire
This former blacksmith's shop operated during the 19th century. Containing an original forge and anvil block, the shop outside Knighton was given a Grade II listing by Historic England this year, alongside other Grade II buildings such as Knighton Manor.
Durbins, Guildford, Surrey
"Durbins" was designed by renowned art and music critic Roger Fry at the turn of the 20th century. The house is known for its progressiveness at the time and originality of design, making it one of the most independent pieces of architecture in England before World War I. The house, initially listed as Grade I, was updated to Grade II in 2021.
Selworthy Farm, Somerset
Lying in the National Trust's Holnicote Estate, Selworthy Farm has post-medieval roots and is even recorded in the Domesday Book. The farm was enlarged in the 19th century and is formed of a group of buildings, all of which have been listed.