Memorials

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Find places to visit in Britain by name, location, type of attraction, or other keyword.

This listings directory of over 950 entries is being phased out.
It now excludes places and things of interest in the North of England, including Yorkshire.
These can be found in ABAB’s Places.
Places to visit in England’s East Midlands are currently being moved to ABAB’s Places.

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ADAM SMITH, statue

Statue of Adam Smith outside St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh.  Scottish economist and philosopher Adam Smith (1723-1790) is probably best known as the author of 'Wealth of Nations'. The bronze statue is by Alexander Stoddart and was unveiled in 2008.

The post code is for St Giles' Cathedral.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Outside St Giles' Cathedral
The Royal Mile
Edinburgh
County
Lothian
Post Code
EH1 1RE
Main Historic Period
Modern
Tip/Nearby
St Giles' Cathedral
Primary Management
Local Authority
ALFRED MEMORIAL, Athelney

The Alfred Memorial at Athelney is a Victorian memorial on the site of the abbey, said to have been founded by King Alfred in 878, on the site of his refuge from the Danes on the Isle of Athelney.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Field near Athelney Farm
Cuts Road
Athelney
County
Somerset
Post Code
TA7 0SD
Main Historic Period
Victorian
Link to featured article
Tip/Nearby
Burrow Mump is just down the road. Muchelney Abbey isn't far.
Primary Management
Unknown
Alloway Auld Kirk

Alloway Auld Kirk, the ruined old church at Alloway dates from the 16th century, though the site could be much older. It is most famous now due to it being featured in Robert Burns' poem 'Tam o' Shanter' (1791), as the place where witches and warlocks gather. The churchyard is fascinating and includes the graves of Burns' father, William Burnes, and sister, Isabella Burns Begg. Combine with a visit to the Robert Burns' Museum, his birthplace, Burns Monument and Brig o' Doon.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
40 Alloway
County
Ayrshire
Post Code
KA7 4PQ
Main Historic Period
Tudor
Useful Website Address
Tip/Nearby
The Robert Burns' Museum, the cottage where he was born, the Burns Monument and Brig o' Doon are all within walking distance.
Primary Management
National Trust for Scotland
BATTLE of BANNOCKBURN

The Battle of Bannockburn took place over the 23rd and 24th June 1314 between the Scots, under Robert the Bruce, and a significantly larger army under Edward II of England. The English were under siege by the Scots at Stirling Castle and Edward's army was intended to relieve the siege. Instead, Bruce inflicted a massive defeat. This ultimately led to the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320.

Much of the probable site of the battle is now built over. However, the National Trust for Scotland operates a visitor centre that offers a hi-tech battle experience (ticket only), a shop and a cafe. There is memorial to the battle on the site as well as a statue of Robert the Bruce. Note - there is no museum or exhibition.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Glasgow Road
Whins of Milton
Stirling
County
Stirlingshire
Post Code
FK7 0LJ
Main Historic Period
Medieval
Useful Website Address
Tip/Nearby
Stirling Castle, Wallace Monument
Primary Management
National Trust for Scotland
Battle of Britain Monument

London's monument to the Battle of Britain is on Victoria Embankment, between Westminster Bridge and the RAF Memorial. It was unveiled by Prince Charles in 2005, cost £1.65 million and was funded entirely by public subscription. Among the donors was the Czech Republic. The monument is more than 80 feet (25 metres) long and was the brainchild of the late Bill Bond MBE, founder of the Battle of Britain Historical Society. It honours ‘the Few’, the RAF pilots who were outnumbered and who saved Britain from invasion in 1940. At its centre is a near life-size sculpture depicting airmen scrambling – running to their aircraft in order to intercept the enemy. Around the monument are the names of the Few – 2,936 airmen from fifteen nations who took part in the battle on the Allied side. Other panels show some of the other participants and contributors to the Battle of Britain and ultimate victory – including civilians.

Do not confuse this monument with the Battle of Britain Memorial in Kent. The post code is approximate.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Victoria Embankment
Westminster
County
London
Post Code
SW1A 2JL
Main Historic Period
Modern
Link to featured article
Tip/Nearby
Houses of Parliament, New Scotland Yard, RAF Memorial, Cleopatra's Needle
Primary Management
Local Authority
BATTLE of ROSLIN

Memorial to the Battle of Roslin, erected in 1994. The battle was fought on 24th February 1303 between the Scots and English during the Wars of Scottish Independence. It was a Scottish victory, but it does not figure in many history books and few people have even heard of it. Some accounts of the battle suggest that a divided force of 30,000 English troops was picked off in 3 separate engagements by a rapidly assembled Scottish army of 8,000 fighting on terrain they knew. However, evidence is lacking and the above story may be a myth; the battle could have been a skirmish, or series of skirmishes.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Nr Dryden Cottages
Roslin
County
Midlothian
Post Code
EH25 9PP
Main Historic Period
Medieval
Link to featured article
Tip/Nearby
Rosslyn Chapel and Castle
Primary Management
Unknown
BERLIN WALL

There's a small section of the Berlin Wall, taken from the Leuschnerdamm in the Kreuzberg district of the city, outside the Imperial War Museum in London. On it, the main item of graffiti is the phrase 'CHANGE YOUR LIFE' by the graffiti artist 'Indiano'. The Berlin Wall was erected by the East German authorities from the 13 August 1961, dividing the city between east and west. It was breached by ordinary Berliners on 9 November 1989, an event seen by many as marking the end of the Cold War. It also paved the way for German reunification. The Wall was finally dismantled between 1990-94.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Lambeth Road
Lambeth
County
London
Post Code
SE1 6HZ
Main Historic Period
Modern
Useful Website Address
Primary Management
Imperial War Museum
BRIGHTLING

Brightling is a tiny village in the Weald, surrounded by lovely countryside and other tiny villages. There are two reasons you might want to visit. Firstly, it has an attractive church, dedicated to St Thomas à Becket, which was actually mentioned in the Domesday survey.  So, given that Thomas was murdered in 1170, the church was obviously originally dedicated to someone else, possibly St Nicholas.  The current building dates from the 13th century and among its features are some good brasses, 17th century wall paintings (biblical texts) and a rare barrel organ.  The second reason to visit Brightling is to see the large stone pyramid in the churchyard.  This was built as a mausoleum for John ‘Mad Jack’ Fuller (1757-1834), the local squire.  Fuller was an eccentric, drunk, Member of Parliament, plantation and slave owner, philanthropist, patron of the arts and science (he supported JMW Turner and Michael Faraday) and builder of follies.  Local legend was that he had been buried in his pyramid seated at a table in full evening dress with a bottle of claret but, sadly, that was shown to be untrue.  Among his other structures are a ‘temple’ in the grounds of his house, Rosehill (now Brightling Park) next door to the church, an observatory (now a private residence), an obelisk on a local hilltop, ‘sugar loaf’ (no idea, sorry) and a tower – which is easily accessible a short walk across fields south-east of the church.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
The Street
Brightling
County
East Sussex
Post Code
TN32 5HH
Main Historic Period
Georgian
Tip/Nearby
Bateman's, Bodiam
Primary Management
Local Authority
BUNHILL FIELDS Burial Ground

Bunhill Fields is a former burial ground established in the 17th century (though with a longer history than that) and the last resting place for an estimated 123,000 bodies. It is particularly known for its nonconformist connections. Among those commemorated here are William Blake, Daniel Defoe, John Bunyan and Susannah Wesley (John Wesley's mum). The burial area is fenced in, and crowded; there is an open area, primarily used by office workers at lunch times.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
38 City Road
County
London
Post Code
EC1Y 2BG
Main Historic Period
Georgian
Link to featured article
Useful Website Address
Tip/Nearby
John Wesley's House and Museum, Quaker Gardens
Primary Management
Local Authority
Burns Monument

Enormous, 70' high, Grecian-style memorial to the poet Robert Burns, erected by subscription in 1823 and surrounded by attractive gardens. Nearby is the Brig o' Doon, Alloway Auld Kirk, Burns' Birthplace Museum and Cottage.

Photo: tormentor4555 via Wikipedia.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Burns Memorial Gardens
Alloway
County
Ayrshire
Post Code
KA7 4PQ
Main Historic Period
Georgian
Useful Website Address
Tip/Nearby
Brig o' Doon, Alloway Auld Kirk, Burns' cottage and museum all within walking dostance. Park at museum.
Primary Management
National Trust for Scotland

If your favourite attraction is not listed yet, and you have a good quality digital photograph of it that you are able to freely send, please get in touch

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