What's New?

Enhancement work on the exclusive (at least for ladies) world of gentlemen's clubs in London provides a glimpse into a world seemingly past. The enhancement covered not only well known clubs like the "Athenaeum" or the "Royal Automobile Club", but also less well known ones like the "Den Norske Klub" housed within the premises of the "Naval and Military Club" at St. James's Square. The earliest clubs were often established in chocolate or coffee houses in the late 17th and 18th century; one of the oldest being the "White's Club" at St. James's Street. Some clubs were founded for officers to have a place in London to socialize during leave like the "United Services Club". The "East India Sports Club" was originally founded for employees of the East India Company to use whilst on leave or retirement from India. Most clubs are housed in listed buildings designed by well known architects and sometimes associated with historical personalities. In addition to the listing information, the enhanced records provide more detailed architectural descriptions and the club's history.

A view from the south showing the Drawing Room at the Athenaeum Club
Reproduced by permission of English Heritage.NMR

A recent project has been undertaken to create and enhance NMR records for seaside-related buildings such as pleasure piers, seaside pavilions, winter gardens, hotels, fairgrounds, cinemas and theatres. English seaside resorts form an essential part of our cultural identity and contain some of the finest and most unique entertainment buildings in Britain. Nearly 230 extensive records have been created or enhanced using the latest sources, including recent English Heritage survey work and publications. Many of these have also been linked to historic images from the National Monuments Record.

Lytham St Annes Pier (MF99/0626/33)
See Monument Record 39248

Blackpool Pleasure Beach (AA047934)
See Monument Record 1458491

Based on the recent English Heritage Played in Britain (http://www.playedinbritain.co.uk) publications, a project has been undertaken to enhance NMR records for a range of sports venues in Birmingham and Liverpool. These include monuments of the twentieth century or earlier such as swimming baths, golf and cricket pavilions, football grounds, bowling clubs and greyhound stadiums. England pioneered many sports which are today played throughout the world at international level e.g. football, rugby (league and union), cricket, tennis (real and lawn), hockey, billiards and snooker. As such many of our sports venues are of considerable historical interest and architectural merit.

Villa Park, Birmingham (NMR 24010/13
See Monument Record 1261871

The past can be painful but English Heritage is committed to reflecting the varied history of all the people in England. As part of the commemoration of the bicentenary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade, English Heritage have published the “Sites of Memory" leaflet that is a guide to a selection of the historic buildings and sites with a link to the history of the slave trade, of black people brought to England through the trade, and of the abolition struggle. This project assists anyone searching for information on any buildings, sites or memorials associated with the slave trade, plantation wealth, the abolition struggle or black resistance to slavery. The records of these surviving monuments have been updated to reflect present useage, condition and to ensure a correct record is maintained of these important historical monuments.

© Mr Cyril N. Chapman LRPS
The headstone of a black servant known as Scipio Africanus,
St. Mary's Churchyard, Henbury, Bristol
IoE Number: 379142

William Wilberforce, a campaigner for abolition
Ref no: © English Heritage. NMR AA98/06228