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Oldest Stonehenge family photo discovered in collection of rock legend Dr. Brian May

Stonehenge’s oldest family photo has been discovered in the collection of Dr. Brian May, legendary guitarist of rock band Queen, English Heritage announced today (3 August). The image will be on display as part of a collection set to a soundtrack performed by May himself, viewed through a digital stereoscope, loaned to the charity by the Brian May Archive of Stereoscopy.

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Astronomer Couple Receive English Heritage Blue Plaque

English Heritage commemorated the Astronomers, Walter and Annie Maunder, with a blue plaque today (Wednesday 16 March). As well as their important work on sunspots, solar photography and the debunking of the canals-on-Mars myth, it was their avowed aim to make astronomy more accessible to women as well as amateur astronomers. The plaque marks 69 Tyrwhitt Road in Lewisham, where the couple lived from 1907 to 1911, having previously lived at number 86. It was during their time on Tyrwhitt Road that they published the 1904 sunspot article, with its famous ‘butterfly diagram’. They were at this address, too, when they wrote The Heavens and its Story, making frequent references to the nearby park and favourite stargazing spot, Hilly Fields.

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Anonymous Hadrian’s Wall excavators celebrated in new exhibition

A new photography exhibition opens at Corbridge Roman Town on Hadrian’s Wall today (7 April 2022), as part of English Heritage’s 1900 celebrations, marking 1900 years since construction started on the wall. Extraordinary Exploration: The Edwardian discovery of Coria showcases dozens of photographs of the local labourers who worked at Corbridge over nine years. These completely inexperienced excavators helped uncover remains of extraordinary quality and international renown, but have remained anonymous for over 100 years. Now, new research carried out by English Heritage has named 11 men and the charity hopes that the exhibition and the newly colourised photographs will lead to more being identified.

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Dr John Conolly and the former Hanwell Asylum receive English Heritage blue plaque

Dr John Conolly (1794-1866) and the former Hanwell Asylum have been commemorated with a blue plaque, English Heritage announced today (12 May 2022). The plaque is situated on what was the left-hand wing in Conolly’s time and is now part of St Bernard’s Hospital. It was here that Conolly, a supporter of the asylum system as a means of care and cure, made his influential contribution to transforming the care of people who had been hospitalised with mental health problems, advocating a system of ‘non-restraint’, which dispensed with the handcuffs, leg irons, and strait jackets regularly used in most asylums at that time.

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King Charles III England Coast Path – The Isle of Wight and Osborne

For several years, English Heritage has been actively involved in discussions about the proposal that the King Charles III England Coast Path would go through Osborne, Queen Victoria’s seaside home, on the Isle of Wight. Unfortunately, the unique security and conservation challenges posed by the path to this historic site couldn’t be overcome and we are not able to facilitate access.

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English Heritage honours golfing legend Henry Cotton with Blue Plaque

Henry Cotton, three-time British Open winner, becomes first golfer to be honoured by the scheme.

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Sir John Gielgud receives English Heritage Blue Plaque

Dame Judi Dench has unveiled a new plaque commemorating her friend and fellow actor Sir John Gielgud

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Blue Plaque for Daniel O'Connell

The 19th-century Irish political leader, Daniel O'Connell, has been honoured with an English Heritage blue plaque at his former home in London.

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Novelist Georgette Heyer receives Blue Plaque

Georgette Heyer, historical novelist par excellence and one of the 20th century's most popular British writers, has been honoured with an English Heritage Blue Plaque.

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Blue Plaque for Osbert Lancaster

Osbert Lancaster, the great comic artist who lampooned architectural styles and coined such phrases as 'Stockbrokers' Tudor' and 'Banker's Georgian', has been honoured with an English Heritage Blue Plaque on the Notting Hill house in which he was born.