The First World War was the first total war and at the end of four years of fighting all sections of society were drawn into the conflict.
This section explains how, during the Centennial period we revealed the true impact of the war on England; the legacy of what may be regarded as the First Home Front. This programme of investigation and photography will continue beyond the 2014-2018 centenary.
Historic England has documented the ‘footprint’ that the First World War has left on England’s buildings, countryside, and in her coastal waters.
Many places associated with the First World War – former airfields, munitions factories, training areas – were forgotten or neglected and in danger of being lost forever. In some cases wartime buildings have been adapted to new uses.
Traces of other activities, such as elaborate training trenches, may only survive as subtle marks in the landscape. Elsewhere traces of demolished factories can be plotted as archaeological earthworks and the location of wrecks of German U-Boats and British submarines pinpointed within territorial waters 12 miles off the English coast.
What our research has found about the impact the First World War had on the home front.
First World War: Drill Halls
From the middle of the 19th century, Drill Halls were a common sight in every town and city.
First World War: Camps
Revealing the traces of the vast new army camps built to house the troops following Field Marshal Kitchener’s call for hundreds of thousands of volunteers for the New Army.
First World War: Trench Warfare
Less well-known images of the First World War are the extensive ‘practice’ trenches that were dug to train troops before they were sent to the Western Front and some may still be found across England.
Wartime Maritime Innovation
Innovations to counter the German U-Boat threat such as ‘Q-Ships’, decoys to lure German U-Boats into a surface attack, and ‘Cubist’ ships painted with ‘razzle-dazzle’ camouflage designed to break up vessels’ contours and visually confuse U-Boats.
First World War: Merchant Shipping Wrecks
Many merchant vessels were lost, along with many others involved in protecting and maintaining the War Channels.
First World War: Submarine Wrecks
Historic England’s marine archaeologists carried out a project to locate German U-Boats and British submarines sunk within territorial waters.
First World War: Airfields
Historic England has listed some of the most intact groups of hangars and other buildings. All played their part in the subsequent expansion of British air power throughout the First World War.
First World War: Airships, Balloon and Seaplane Stations
Airpower brought an important new dimension to naval power; in particular it permitted naval forces to extend their observation beyond the horizon.
First World War: Anti-Aircraft Sites
The threat of attack from the air and the best ways in which to counter it was discussed as early as 1909.
Historic England worked with the Council for British Archaeology on the Home Front Legacy project to support volunteers to record the legacy of the war in their areas. Early air photographs from the Britain from Above collection provided unexplored views of England shortly after the end of the war.
This work contributes to a new understanding and awareness of the impact of the war on England and how it shaped our buildings and places. It reveals the importance of these often overlooked places, and ensure the heritage of the First World War is passed on to future generations.
Examines the legacy of the First World War in England via archaeological and architectural remains.
Keep up-to-date with projects and activities involving applied research into the historic environment.
Access many reports covering First World War heritage through our research reports database.
Research, record, protect and look after the war memorials you care about.
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