Immortalised: The people loved, left and lost in our landscape

Memorials and statues tell stories of those who have been commemorated in our public spaces. This gallery of images from the Historic England Archive shows a selection of famous figures and local heroes immortalised in different ways.

'Bust of Nelson Mandela', Royal Festival Hall, Lambeth, Greater London (1992-05-07) by Derek Kendall, English HeritageHistoric England

Immortalised

Memorials are as varied as the people they represent. Some are fixed in stone or bronze, and some are fleeting.

Some are celebrated, others neglected. Some are to those we are proud to commemorate, others to people we may sometimes want to forget.

Philip Larkin Statue, Hull Paragon Station, Kingston upon Hull (2017-02-03) by Alun Bull, Historic EnglandHistoric England

From politicians to poets, from queens to fishwives, England's public spaces are adorned with statutes, plaques, street names and monuments commemorating those who connect us to past achievements and events.

The Eleanor Cross, London Road, Hardingstone, Northamptonshire, Ministry of Works, 1930/1939, From the collection of: Historic England
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Statue of Field Marshall Jan Smuts, Parliament Square, Westminster, Greater London (1957-01-11) by Ministry of WorksHistoric England

Why do we remember?

Our public spaces are often dominated by representations of men on plinths.

But if you look around you, there are hundreds of thousands of memorials to people who capture the great diversity of society.

The way we commemorate people is as varied as the people themselves.

A love lock attached to Union Suspension Bridge, Horncliffe, Northumberland, Alun Bull, English Heritage, 2013-08-29, From the collection of: Historic England
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A crowd gathered around Nelson's Column, Trafalgar Square, Westminster, Greater London (1905-10) by Campbell's Press Studio LtdHistoric England

How do we live with our memorials?

Over time, memorials can blend into the background and the memory of those they commemorate fades.

But some memorials seem to have a special power. They become places of congregation in times of celebration or reverence.

They can be targets for anger or symbols of hope.

'Wor Jackie' Statue, St James' Park, Strawberry Place, Newcastle Upon Tyne (2009-09-30) by Alun Bull, English HeritageHistoric England

Who decides?

Decisions about memorials provoke strong feelings. Who is worthy of immortalisation, and who is overlooked? Who are the decision makers, and whose voices remain unheard?

Decisions that were once made behind closed doors have increasingly come out into the open, and so the story of immortalisation has become richer, deeper and more nuanced.

Dolly Peel Statue, River Drive, South Shields, South Tyneside, Peter Williams, English Heritage, 2004-07-01, From the collection of: Historic England
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People strolling past the statue of Edward Colston, Colston Avenue, Bristol (1895/1900) by Unknown photographerHistoric England

What do memorials mean today?

Memorials established centuries, decades or even just a few years ago can become the subject of protest as contemporary values, understanding and opinions change.

Is it ever right to remove monuments that ignite debate and allow us to confront the past?

Street signs for Lilian Board Way and Bedser Drive, Wood End, Greenford, Ealing, Greater London (2009-09-29) by Derek Kendal, English HeritageHistoric England

How can we address the omissions by celebrating stories, people and groups that have, up to now, been forgotten or excluded?

Alan Turing Memorial, Sackville Park, Fairfield Street, Manchester (2018-06-22) by Lucy Millson-Watkins, Historic EnglandHistoric England

Who do we want to remember and how?

Immortalisation has the power to help us reconcile with the past, to celebrate greatness in all its forms and to better understand who we are.

Blue Plaque to Mary Seacole, 14 Soho Square, Westminster, Greater London (2016-03-18) by Lucy Millson-Watkins, Historic EnglandHistoric England

Who has been forgotten or excluded?

The National Heritage List for England includes more than 1,300 statues, 3,100 plaques and 10,300 stones commemorating people loved and lost across the country.

There are more than 100,000 war memorials in England.

There are fewer than 500 statues of historical, non-royal men.

Less than 4% of Blue Plaques honour Black and Asian people.

Less than 25% of statues in England are of women.

David Bowie mural, Turnstall Road, Brixton, Lambeth, Greater London (2016-01-13) by Chris Redgrave, Historic EnglandHistoric England

Discover more about Historic England's Immortalised season.

Credits: Story

Historic England is the public body that helps people care for, enjoy and celebrate England's spectacular historic environment, from beaches and battlefields to parks and pie shops.

Discover the Historic England Archive.

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions (listed below) who have supplied the content.
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