BRITAIN’S HIDDEN HISTORY
Look a little closer.
Discover the railways, canals, mines and defences that shaped the places around us.
648 heritage records
648 places to discover
In the full collection: 37 place guides · 611 shorter records · check access
Industrial
Astley Green Colliery
Near Bolton · England
Visitor access offeredIndustrial
Barton Swing Aqueduct
Near Manchester · England
Exterior viewing onlyRail heritage
Ribblehead Viaduct (Batty Moss)
Near Settle · England
Exterior viewing onlyCold War
Brandsby Royal Observer Corps post
Near York · England
Access not confirmedRail heritage
Castlefield Viaduct
Near Manchester · England
Visitor access offeredIndustrial
Chatham Dockyard No.1 Smithery
Near Rochester · England
Closed at last reviewIndustrial
Chatham Dockyard Ropery
Near Rochester · England
Visitor access offeredIndustrial
Chillenden Windmill
Near Canterbury · England
Access not confirmedCold War
Harty Ferry Road Cold War battery
Near Canterbury · England
Access not confirmedCold War
York Cold War Bunker
Near York · England
Closed at last reviewIndustrial
Draper’s Windmill, Margate
Near Margate · England
Visitor access offeredIndustrial
Armley Mills drying house and engine shed
Near Leeds · England
Partial access · read detailsWWII
Cramond Island: The Knoll defences
Near Edinburgh · Scotland
Tidal access · check crossingUnderground
Rodney Street Tunnel
Near Edinburgh · Scotland
Visitor access offeredUnderground
Standedge Canal Tunnel, Marsden portal
Near Huddersfield · England
Guided visits · book aheadUnderground
Inchcolm Battery Tunnel
Near Edinburgh · Scotland
Partial access · read detailsIndustrial
Herne Windmill
Near Canterbury · England
Visitor access offeredOther defences
Lodge Hill anti-aircraft battery
Near Rochester · England
Access not confirmedIndustrial
Marple Aqueduct
Near Stockport · England
Visitor access offeredRail heritage
Marple Railway Viaduct
Near Stockport · England
Exterior viewing onlyRead our access guidance
EXPLORE THE STORIES
There’s a story in the structure.
Find out how a viaduct was built, what a wartime defence was for, or why a mine needed a giant engine.
Read the stories