A total of 17 remarkable and unusual historic places have been granted protection in 2024 and across England, 256 historic places have been added to the National Heritage List for England.
Newly listed historic gems include: a revolutionary former maternity ward at Princess Royal Community Hospital in Huddersfield – its ‘bungalow style’ design and emphasis on infection control improved the lives of new mothers from the late 1920s; a Brutalist church built above a shopping centre in Bristol; three exceptionally rare 17th century chest tombs including a woman believed to have lived to 119 years old and the tomb of Mary Haddock whose seafaring son inspired the character of Captain Haddock in the ‘Adventures of Tintin’ comics.
Heritage Minister Sir Chris Bryant said: “Historic England’s annual listing roundup is a celebration of 12 months of hard work to protect and preserve some truly unique buildings and places that have helped shape our cultural history. Like all ‘best of’ year lists worth reading, I implore you to pour over these 17 wonderful places and go and experience some of them for yourself in the new year.”
Rare First World War Portable Bridge
One of the entries is Inglis Portable Military Bridge (Light Type) over the Basingstoke Canal, Hampshire GU11 2HJ (Grade II listed):
Known as the Inglis Pyramid Bridge, it is a rare metal bridge which crosses the Basingstoke Canal near Aldershot. This unassuming portable bridge is one of the relatively few military structures in England that date from the First World War.
This was the first portable bridge designed by War Office engineer Charles Inglis (pronounced Ingalls). Made of lightweight steel, it was quick and easy to construct with little training and could be reused. Soldiers used the design effectively during the First World War, especially in France, and it was hugely influential in developing future military bridges. They were also used by Allied Forces as far afield as Pakistan and India.
It is one of only 10 Inglis Pyramid Bridges known to have been manufactured during the 1914 to 1918 conflict and is likely to be the only example still in use as a bridge in England.
