Historic England has announced 19 new additions to its list of historic places granted protection in 2025, including a network of anti-tank defences built during World War II and a revolutionary concrete university block from the 1960s.
In Surrey, woodland, eight decades after the "dragon's teeth" were installed as part of Britain's wartime defenses against Nazi invasion. The pyramid-shaped obstacles, known as "dragon's teeth", were built by the Royal Engineers in 1941-42 to thwart tank attacks and were manned by Home Guard soldiers. Historic England has listed them as a scheduled monument, highlighting their significance not only because they are remarkably well-preserved but also because of the story they tell about a time when Britain was bracing for what many saw as certain German invasion.
The 1960s concrete building on the list is the Renold building on the University of Manchester campus. Designed by WA Gibbon, it was the first purpose-built lecture theatre block in an English higher education institution and marked a significant shift towards modernist architecture. Its listing at Grade II recognizes its importance as a pioneering building that pushed the boundaries of design.
Other unusual listings include a 1933 boathouse built for a model boat club in Birmingham by men who were long-term unemployed, a once-common but now rare type of prefabricated church in Essex, and an exceptionally rare shipwreck off the Dorset coast. These sites reveal the fascinating history that surrounds us all, from ancient burial sites to wartime defenses and modernist buildings.
Historic England's co-CEOs Claudia Kenyatta and Emma Squire said that the listings provided a connection to the people and events that shaped communities, highlighting the importance of preserving our heritage for future generations.
In Surrey, woodland, eight decades after the "dragon's teeth" were installed as part of Britain's wartime defenses against Nazi invasion. The pyramid-shaped obstacles, known as "dragon's teeth", were built by the Royal Engineers in 1941-42 to thwart tank attacks and were manned by Home Guard soldiers. Historic England has listed them as a scheduled monument, highlighting their significance not only because they are remarkably well-preserved but also because of the story they tell about a time when Britain was bracing for what many saw as certain German invasion.
The 1960s concrete building on the list is the Renold building on the University of Manchester campus. Designed by WA Gibbon, it was the first purpose-built lecture theatre block in an English higher education institution and marked a significant shift towards modernist architecture. Its listing at Grade II recognizes its importance as a pioneering building that pushed the boundaries of design.
Other unusual listings include a 1933 boathouse built for a model boat club in Birmingham by men who were long-term unemployed, a once-common but now rare type of prefabricated church in Essex, and an exceptionally rare shipwreck off the Dorset coast. These sites reveal the fascinating history that surrounds us all, from ancient burial sites to wartime defenses and modernist buildings.
Historic England's co-CEOs Claudia Kenyatta and Emma Squire said that the listings provided a connection to the people and events that shaped communities, highlighting the importance of preserving our heritage for future generations.
these new additions are like a reminder that even in times of war, we need structures that make sense & serve a purpose 
, but also buildings that push boundaries & change the game 
. think about it, when was the last time you saw something old and yet still relevant? like, do we really appreciate our history or are we just glad to have moved on from it? 
those "dragon's teeth" are like a symbol of how communities come together to protect themselves & each other 
. let's learn from the past but also keep moving forward towards a brighter future 
! The anti-tank defences from WWII are so mind-blowing - who knew Britain was bracing for invasion back then? 
! The "dragon's teeth" in Surrey are literally the coolest thing I've heard of - can you imagine being part of the Home Guard back in WWII? 
. I mean, it's not just a building, it's a piece of history and a testament to innovative design. I love how Historic England is highlighting these under-the-radar stories - they're giving us a glimpse into our collective past and the people who made it what it is today 
. And can we talk about the 1933 boathouse in Birmingham? That's just amazing 
.
. Seriously though, what's up with Historic England making these 19 new additions? It feels like every week they're adding another new site to their list... can't we just focus on something else for a change? 
I mean, don't get me wrong, the "dragon's teeth" and that cool concrete building are pretty cool, but there are so many other historical sites out there that need some love too... like, have you guys ever heard of the internet archives in Los Angeles? 
It just goes to show how much our history is worth preserving for future generations.
But apparently, it was a game-changer at the time. And to think about all these old buildings just being demolished left and right... it's heartbreaking 
.
And an old prefabricated church that's now super rare... I mean, who knew our heritage was so cool? 
have you ever heard of historic england? apparently they're big on preserving old stuff 
The "dragon's teeth" in Surrey are literally still standing and they just got listed as a scheduled monument... it's not even that old, 80 years isn't even that long! 
And can you believe the story behind it? Like, these Home Guard soldiers were literally bracing for the worst and people thought Germany was gonna invade and now we get to see these cool obstacles still intact 
. I'm also so stoked about the Renold building in Manchester, like, who would've thought a lecture theatre block could be so iconic?! 
. Can't help but wonder what other cool/ weird things are hidden in plain sight, waiting for us to discover them 
.
but even dead artists can make a killing 
but I think it's time we rewrite that narrative and give voice to those who were left out of the past 
what's even more interesting is the story behind its design 
it was meant to push boundaries and change the way buildings are made 
i love how historic england is highlighting these hidden gems so people can appreciate their history and learn from them 
I mean don't get me wrong, it's cool that people built a boathouse for a model boat club when they were unemployed, but is it really historic? It's not like it's some old castle or museum or anything. And what's with the emphasis on "pushing boundaries of design" in the 1960s concrete building? Like, big deal, it was modernist architecture, whoop-de-doo 
. It's so important to preserve our history and heritage for future generations - it's a great way to learn about where we come from and how we got here 
and a revolutionary concrete university block from the 60s 
and i love how historic england is recognizing the stories behind these sites, like the ones about people bracing for a german invasion in ww2 
. and can we talk about the renold building? it's like a masterpiece of modernist architecture 
Those "dragon's teeth" obstacles in Surrey are a reminder that even in the face of uncertainty and fear, ordinary people came together to protect their country 
.