Memorials

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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
Anne Bronte's burial place

Anne Bronte is the only one of the famous siblings not to be buried in the family vault at Haworth. She worked as a governess in Scarborough and journeyed the 70 miles from home when she was ill, hoping the sea air would help. She arrived on Saturday 25 May 1849, very ill, accompanied by her sister Charlotte and a friend, Ellen and died on the Monday. Charlotte commissioned the very worn headstone seen today, but returning 3 years afterwards found a number of errors on it. The errors, whatever they were, were seemingly corrected – but the inscription still has Anne’s age wrong. A modern plaque has been placed on the ground by the Bronte Society.

St Mary's Church dates from the 12th century and is interesting in its own right. Canons were based in the churchyard during the Civil War, from which Parliamentary troops exchanged fire with the Royalists in the castle.

Location/Address
158 Castle Rd
Scarborough
County
North Yorkshire
Post Code
YO11 1HY
Main Historic Period
Victorian
Link to featured article
Useful Website Address
Tip/Nearby
Scarborough Castle
Primary Management
Church authorities
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
The Rebel Tree in Clifton

The Battle of Clifton Moor took place on 18 December 1745 and was, many believe, the last battle on English soil. It depends on your definition of ‘battle’. The rumpus at Clifton Moor was more of a skirmish and formed part of the Jacobite rebellion of 1745, which culminated in the Battle of Culloden in 1746. The rebel Jacobite army was retreating from Derby and its rearguard met up with an advance part of the Government army that was in pursuit. 10 Government troops were killed and 12 rebels. The action delayed the Government force and facilitated the Jacobite retreat. There are a number of points of interest in the village of Clifton. Firstly, the Rebel Tree in the south part of the village marks the possible site of the fighting and is the traditional burial place of the Jacobites. There is a small plaque underneath the tree which, until fairly recently, was surrounded by fields; it is now surrounded by a small residential estate. Across the road, opposite the George and Dragon pub, is the Kelter Well – an old village well where someone has placed another memorial plaque to the battle. A memorial stone in St Cuthbert’s churchyard (north end of the village) marks the burial place of the Government soldiers. The cottage where the Duke of Cumberland spent the night is still there.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Clifton
County
Cumbria
Post Code
CA10 2ER
Main Historic Period
Georgian
Tip/Nearby
St Cuthbert's Church and Clifton Hall, both in the village. Eamont Bridge has prehistoric remains. Brougham Castle and Penrith nearby also.
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
BATTLE of STAMFORD BRIDGE

The Battle of Stamford Bridge was one of Britain's significant battles, fought at a crossing over the River Derwent, not far from York, on 25th September 1066.  King Harold's Saxon-English army launched a surprise attack on an invading force of Norsemen under Harald Hardrada and Tostig Godwinson. The English victory was emphatic, but Harold then had to march south to meet the invading Normans at Hastings. The original bridge is long gone and there is not much to see in the modern village, though there is a memorial in the centre.

Location/Address
Stamford Bridge
County
North Yorkshire
Post Code
YO41 1QE
Main Historic Period
Viking
Link to featured article
Primary Management
Local Authority
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

This is a growing listings directory – over 950 entries have been listed as of September 2022. 

Entries have links for further information, such as opening times and entry fees.

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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