As this blog comes to a natural close, I would like to take a moment to reflect on what these 14 pieces of seemingly random history can tell us about the importance of arts and heritage. A question that is especially pertinent in these challenging times, as half-baked economic plans leave historic institutions on the brink of bankruptcy and the heritage sector faces redundancies on an unprecedented scale.
Throop Mill: Bournemouth, Dorset
I’m perhaps showing my ignorance again, because it took me twenty-three years of living in the same spot of Bournemouth to discover this beauty spot just a short romp from my front door.
The Commonwealth War Grave: Bournemouth
Anyone who studied history at school will be familiar with the sight of a Commonwealth War Grave (CWG), pristine lines of white slabs dedicated to the hundreds upon thousands of lives lost in the First and Second World Wars. These sites are commonly found on the continent, informally marking out what was once the frontline of battle. I visited several myself in school, as part of the standard British curriculum, to learn about where many soldiers in the Twentieth Century fought and were ultimatley laid to rest. It took a global pandemic for me to realise that I needn't have boarded a Ferry across the English channel to see one of these mass-graves.
Housebound Histories 