England Historical Facts

The coastal town of Bridport in Dorset was once famous for its Rope-making, with some of the rope being used for making hangmen's nooses. These nooses became famously known as 'a Bridport dagger'. Bridport also made the nets for England's World Cup victory in 1966

Queen Victoria used to occasionally worship at St Laurence Church just outside Ramsgate in an area known as St Lawrence. The different spellings are alleged to be the result of an error in the 1700's and perpetuates to this day.

Every year on Shrove Tuesday, the ladies of Olney, Buckinghamshire, compete in the world famous Pancake Race, a tradition which dates back to 1445.

Burgess hill, West Sussex, was named after Mr Burgess - a wealthy land owner.

Lake Windermere's name comes from the Scandinavian for 'Lake of a man called Vinandr'

After the author H G Wells died in London in 1946, his sons decided to spread his ashes between Dorset and the Isle of Wight. Leaving Poole harbour, the Channel was very choppy bobbing their hired boat, The Diedre, about. They abandoned their original idea, and when abeam Old Harry rock near Swanage, spread his ashes to the wind there instead.

Studland Bay, in Dorset, is the only known breeding ground in the UK for the spiney and short-snouted sea horse.

According to various sources, Horatio Nelson learned to sail a dinghy at Burnham Overy Staithe, in Norfolk, when he was 10 years old. Two years later he joined the Navy.

The Beatles played in the market town of Darwen, Lancashire, on Friday 25 January 1963, at the Co-operative Hall.

In the 19th century the town of Chesham in Buckinghamshire, used to be known for its 4 B's - boots, beer, brushes, and Baptists. Woodenware was a notable industry in the past too.