A History of England in 100 Places: Irreplaceable

by Philip Wilkinson

From the observatory in Greenwich where the modern measurement of time began, to England’s oldest inn carved into the sandstone in Nottingham, historic sites across England have been hotbeds of invention, industry, and creativity for centuries. In 2017, Historic England launched a campaign designed to celebrate these remarkable places and their role in shaping the nation and the world. The product of this campaign, this book tells the history of England through the historic sites scattered all over the country.
            Guided by public nominations and a panel of expert judges—including Robert Winston, Mary Beard, and David Olusoga, among others—this book compiles one hundred places where remarkable things have happened that helped to mold the collective identity of England, impacting everything from the nation’s music, literature, and scientific discovery to issues of power, protest, and progress. Beautifully illustrated with archival and contemporary images throughout, this is a unique history of a nation and its landmarks chosen and told by the people of England.

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 15, 2019

About the author

Philip Wilkinson (born 1955) is the author of non-fiction books for children and adults. He was educated at Corpus Christi College, Oxford. He worked as an editor prior to becoming an author.

He specializes in works on history, the arts, religion, and architecture and has written over forty titles.

Reviews

[Claudia]

There have been a glut of books in the past few decades of places we need to see. Be it locally, state or county-wide, a country, a continent or the world. And the variety runs from personal favorites - just where are the best roller coasters in the world and why - to all the UNESCO world heritage sites or the old and new wonders of the world. And for the most part it's all seen through the eyes of the writer as well as their personal bias.

This one is so-called irreplaceable places in England. Not the United Kingdom, Scotland or Wales. England itself. With gorgeous color (for the most part) photos for each place.

They range from the Stonehenge, Sutton Hoo and the Must Farm Bronze Age settlement to the Roman-built Fosse Way and Helvellyn mountain in the Lake District. The discrete homes of writer Charles Dickens, Jane Austin, William Shakespeare, George Orwell, the Brontes and William Morris (known for more than his writings) up through the huge Chatsworth estate. Religious buildings from the Sihk Guru Nanak Gurdwara to the Lindisfarne Priory and the rebuilt St Paul's Cathedral. The Blue Anchor pub which may have been brewing it's own ale for over 500 years to the Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem which is mostly built into the stone behind and beneath it. The Grand Hotel and Abbey Road recording studio, the pump room with its Roman baths in Bath. Commemorative murals and battlefields. The Crystal Palace which only exists in photos and stories and the foundations that remain after the fire that destroyed it. Sculptures and libraries and gardens and stadiums and bridges and museums and more and more...

My favorite was Minack Theatre in Cornwall which literally has the stage as part of the rocky coastline. Tiered seating and the backdrop is the ocean. Beautiful and likely provides unparalleled atmosphere for some stage productions.

So if you're going to visit England and don't have your entire trip scheduled to the minute, take a few hours and visit someplace different. Or if you're a resident of the country, take a chance to explore some nice weekend.

2019-135

[Rachel White]

My boss received this book early ahead of it's release and passed it round our office to read as it is sponsored by one of our main insurers. It was a fascinating book that I really enjoyed going through. It was good to get a different take on some places that I knew about whilst learning something completely new about a place I, in some cases, had never even heard of. I really enjoyed this and it's made me want to look into more books that are like this.

[David Bisset]

This is an interesting collection of significant places in England. The photograph is excellent and the notes are informative. Some of the places commemorated are no longer there: so there selection is rather paradoxical. However, the book is enlightening.

[Alexis Latner]

This is really interesting book in the thoughtful way the featured locations were chosen and the unique light it shines on England's faceted history.

[Steve]

Great collection of photographs and essays about locations across England.

[Angela]

Great book, and has it has left me with a list of places to visit.