By Isle of Wight Observer
As the country continues its vital period of social distancing in response to the
Coronavirus outbreak, English Heritage is today highlighting 30 of the historic
buildings, monuments and sites available to visit online.
Using Google’s unique digital technology, the stories of 29 English Heritage sites around the country – from Osborne on the Isle Wight to Chesters Roman Fort on Hadrian’s Wall – are brought to life and shared via the Google Arts & Culture platform. The partnership broke new ground for Google Arts & Culture as the first time they had worked with a heritage organisation or a multi-site institution.
Meanwhile, English Heritage’s Stonehenge Skyscape enables people around the world to step inside the celebrated stone circle and see the stones and the skies above them at any time of the day or night, offering great insight on the movements of the sun, moon and planets and the solar alignment of Stonehenge, as well as offering a sense of mindfulness and calm.
Last week, English Heritage took the decision to close all its staffed historic sites from 18 March and cancel all public events during the closure period. Some free-to-enter sites with large open spaces remain open for periods of exercise, but these are sites in quieter spots away from crowds, allowing visitors to maintain social distancing.
English Heritage Curatorial Director Anna Eavis said: “As we join together to meet the
challenges of the coronavirus outbreak, we are all looking for ways to continue doing the things we love whilst observing the necessary limitations of social distancing or self-isolation.
“English Heritage is offering everyone the chance to experience our historic sites from home, and learn about them in new ways. You can witness the movement of the sun and stars over Stonehenge, using our great Stonehenge Skyscape tool, and see some of our historic masterpieces and rare artefacts in fantastic quality, created in partnership with Google Arts & Culture. We look forward to welcoming visitors back to those sites which have closed as soon as it is safe to do so, but until then we hope these online experiences will allow people an escape, and the chance to learn something new.
“We are proud to be the guardians of more than 400 places around the country which together tell the story of England. If members of the public enjoy visiting online and want to support us through this difficult time, the best way to help is to join English Heritage at www.english- heritage.org.uk/join.
”Highlights include:
1. Stonehenge Skyscape – https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/skyscape/
English Heritage’s Stonehenge Skyscape enables people around the world to experience the skies above the iconic stone circle, to learn about movements of the sun, moon and planets and to see the solar alignment at Stonehenge. Experience a live sunrise over Stonehenge, see the journey of the stars and the moon from within the stone circle and learn more about the design of Stonehenge and how its builders may have understood their place in the cosmos.
2. Osborne, Isle of Wight – https://g.co/arts/pE9b1y479SLuafk68
Take a 360 video tour of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s palatial holiday home on the Isle of Wight in the company of English Heritage curator Michael Hunter, including the Italian terraces with views over the Solent, which reminded Prince Albert of the Bay of Naples, and the Indian-inspired Durbar Room, designed to reflect Queen Victoria’s position as Empress of India.
3. Audley End House and Gardens, Essex – https://g.co/arts/749Q7XHqaWSh2NbZ6
Explore the story of one of the greatest houses of early 17th-century England, deep in the heart of the Essex countryside, and fly over the glorious formal gardens designed by Capability Brown.
4. Tintagel Castle, Cornwall – https://g.co/arts/5iFheK6SsEbhMBRJ9g
Explore this medieval castle set high on Cornwall's rugged north coast. Inextricably linked with the legend of King Arthur, for centuries this dramatic castle and coastline has fired the imaginations of writers, artists and even the brother of a king. Discover the Early Medieval history of a remote outpost which trading objects from Spain, North Africa and Turkey.
5. Chesters Roman Fort, Northumberland – https://g.co/arts/BN6xDCEvh8iXW4m7A
Explore the most complete Roman cavalry fort in Britain including the unusually well-preserved baths and steam room, and the officers' quarters. Discover an amazing collection of Roman objects and inscriptions in our museum, these were found at the fort and along the wall.
6. Rievaulx Abbey, North Yorkshire – https://g.co/arts/WYz1of3iM8NxAUU98
Tour the impressive ruins in the North York Moors, once one of England's most powerful Cistercian monasteries, including a spectacular extension which provided the setting for a shrine dedicated to Aelred.
7. 1066 Battle of Hastings, Abbey and Battlefield, East Sussex – https://g.co/arts/uwDHeH9L99diYBdi6
Take a walking tour of the field where the armies of King Harold and William the Conqueror clashed in a battle which decided England’s future. Frank Wilkin’s vast 1820 painting of the most famous battle in English history can be seen with ultra-high definition zoom by everyone, anyone via the Google Arts & Culture platform.
8. Whitby Abbey, North Yorkshire – https://g.co/arts/SfQeJ4PS2F4vqmjk9
Wander the clifftop ruins which inspired Caedmon, the first named English poet, and Bram Stoker, the author of 'Dracula' and discover how the abbey remains were saved following the First World War.
9. Wrest Park Collections Store, Bedfordshire – https://g.co/arts/CEKSupEcaB62Ud3o7
Normally only available to view with a pre-booked tour, the Wrest Park stores contain an Aladdin’s Cave of 160,000 historical artefacts in the care of English Heritage. Discover such fascinating objects as a Roman sculpture of the goddess Venus from Wroxeter Roman City, a medieval stone corbel originally from Rufford Abbey in Nottinghamshire, and a 19th-century wood and iron tower used to change the electric lamps in London’s Covent Garden Market building.
In total, 29 of English Heritage sites are showcased on the Google Arts & Culture platform with brand new editorial content for all of them. Stories include the fire that ruined Witley Court in 1937; Art Deco technology and luxury at Eltham Palace; the rediscovery of Rievaulx Abbey in the 1920s; the bombardment of Whitby Abbey during the First World War; and the preparations for nuclear war at York Cold War Bunker.
To experience for yourself, visit g.co/EnglishHeritage or https://www.english-
heritage.org.uk/skyscape/
