Historic England launches Local Heritage Hub, with nearly 400 new digital pages packed with stories, images, and hidden histories from every corner of the country.
· Every county, city, district and major town in England now has its own dedicated heritage page.
· Explore aerial photos, archive material, videos, podcasts and local stories, all in one place.
· Designed for local people to connect with the places they know and love in new and surprising ways.
· Download archive images HERE
Coinciding with this year’s Local History Month, Historic England has launched a new Local Heritage Hub. With nearly 400 locations, every county, city, district, and major town in England now has a dedicated digital page that uncovers its rich and layered history.
Offering a wide range of content, from fascinating aerial photographs showing towns and villages through time, to curated selections of listed buildings, videos, blogs, and podcasts, the Local Heritage Hub invites members of the public to discover their local area through a new lens.
With 71% of people wanting to see more recognition of heritage in their area and 58% agreeing that local heritage enhances their daily lives, this new platform reflects what people are looking for in their local areas. It’s designed not only to inform, but also to also encourage people to see familiar places in unfamiliar ways.
The new service – which will continue to expand with new places, information, and sections added over time – will make local heritage and histories more relevant, relatable, and engaging to more people’s everyday lives, inspiring conversations, unlocking memories, and sparking new interests.
Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive, Historic England said: “Understanding and connecting with local heritage is an important part of building strong communities. With this new service, we hope people across England will be able to explore hidden histories, reconnect with their surroundings, and feel a sense of pride in their local area. I’d encourage everyone to explore the new Local Heritage Hub and see what they might discover about a place that means something to them.”
Claudia Kenyatta and Emma Squire, Director of Regions (Job Share), Historic England said: “Local history is full of surprises, from unexpected stories to long-forgotten views of familiar streets. With the Local Heritage Hub, we’re excited to bring those moments of discovery to more people throughout the country.
It’s a chance to see our everyday surroundings in a new light and to connect with the past in ways that feel relevant today. We are looking forward to exploring new ways to engage with our heritage and seeing how Local Heritage Hub grows over time.”
