History Around Us: what are the most popular sites?
30 April 2025
Ewan Brady, Qualifications Product Manager
For local history month in May, we are publishing a series of blogs on the History Around Us unit of our GCSE History B (SHP) J411 course which brings local history to the fore.
We developed our GCSE History B qualification at the last GCSE reforms in partnership with the Schools History Project (SHP). History Around Us forms the historic environment element of the course, and is one of five equally weighted units in the specification.
In this blog I’ll be exploring the history of the SHP, the most popular sites, some other sites of interest, and explaining why History Around Us is important to me.
About the Schools History Project
The SHP has recently celebrated its fiftieth anniversary, having been one of several subject projects set up by The Schools Council in the 1960s and 1970s. The Schools Council also set up the Cambridge Classics Project in 1966. History Around Us has been a key part of the SHP approach from the beginning.
The main aim of the SHP was to make history more relevant to young people. The original courses for 14-16 year olds had four key elements:
- The development study (a forerunner to the thematic studies on today’s GCSE courses)
- The depth study
- A modern world history study
- History Around Us
Part of the aim of History Around Us was the development of history as a leisure interest. Pupils would make a study of the ‘history around us, using the visible evidence as a starting point’. The study would involve a visit to the site, which would normally include buildings such as castles, country houses, and churches.
The most popular study sites
Schools are free to choose the site they want to study, subject to approval by OCR, as outlined in the specification on pages 16-17. Our GCSE History B is unique in this respect. There are hundreds of different sites studied by our schools. So, what are the most popular choices?
- Kenilworth Castle. The Norman keep dates from 1120s. Its greatest period began when Robert Dudley, friend of Queen Elizabeth took possession of the castle in 1563. It is managed by English Heritage.
- Quarry Bank Mill. One of Britain’s greatest industrial heritage sites, Samuel Greg’s cotton mill was built in 1784. It is managed by the National Trust.
- Norwich Castle. Work on the stone keep was begun in 1093 by King William II. It later became the county gaol, and then a museum in 1894.
- The Tower of London. Fortress, royal palace, prison, and home of the crown jewels. Scene of famous historical events, construction of the White Tower was begun in 1078. It is managed by Historic Royal Palaces.
- Dover Castle. One of the largest castles in England, founded in 1088, but with a history stretching back to before the Roman invasion. It is managed by English Heritage.
Some other sites of interest
Almost 50 schools study Kenilworth Castle – it is very popular! However, there are many sites that are studied by only one or two schools: often sites local or significant to the school. Here is a flavour of the variety of sites chosen:
- York Cold War Bunker. This modern site would have monitored nuclear activity across Yorkshire in the event of nuclear war.
- Vindolanda. An extensive Roman fort near Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland.
- Terry’s Chocolate Factory. An industrial heritage building in York, built in the 1920s.
- Verulamium. The excavations of a Roman town near St Albans with city walls, theatre and hypocaust.
- Ely Cathedral. Often known as the Ship of the Fens, this Romanesque/Gothic cathedral dates back to 1083, on a site with a longer history back to the 600s.
Why History Around Us is important to me
I taught at a school in Watford for several years, and our History Around Us site was the old Watford Union Workhouse on Vicarage Road, beside the home of Watford Football Club. Built between 1836 and 1837, it became Watford General Hospital after the second world war. Many students would walk past this building daily, so it really was ‘history around us’. It is the birthplace of my daughter, so is a special place for me.
History Around Us is arguably the most important part of the Schools History Project – it’s where the connection can be made between the school and the locality in which the school is based, helping foster a sense of belonging and community for students and teachers. Investigating local sites, using primary documents, more recent writing, and the site visit itself lets us find out about the people of the past, and form a connection with them.
Stay connected
If you have any questions, you can email us at history@ocr.org.uk, call us on 01223 553998 or message us @OCR_History. You can also sign up to subject updates and receive email information about resources and support.
If you are considering teaching any of our qualifications, use our online form to let us know, so that we can help you with more information.
About the author
Ewan is Qualifications Product Manager for History, Religious Studies, and Law. He was previously Subject Advisor for RS for six years from 2017. Ewan originally joined OCR as a subject specialist in June 2014. He led the redevelopment of the new AS and A Levels in Law for first teaching in 2017.
Ewan taught for 16 years in Scotland and England and held leadership roles including head of humanities, teaching subjects including history, law, politics, citizenship, and religious studies. In his spare time Ewan enjoys walking, sport, reading, going to the cinema, and playing video games with his family.
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