Oscar Wilde's former home, 34 Tite Street in London. Photography: Historic England

The homes of Oscar Wilde and Anne Lister – the ‘first modern lesbian’ – are set to be relisted as part of Historic England’s Pride of Place project.

Wilde’s marital abode on London’s Tite Street and Lister’s Shibden Hall residence in Halifax are among six sites to have their listings updated or upgraded by the group, which is celebrating the country’s queer history. Also included is Red House, once the residence of composer Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears.

‘Too often, the influence of men and women who helped build our nation has been ignored, underestimated or is simply unknown, because they belonged to minority groups,’ said Duncan Wilson, Historic England’s chief executive. ‘Our Pride of Place project is one step on the road to better understanding just what a diverse nation we are, and have been for many centuries.’

Photography: The Modern House
St Anne’s Court in Surrey. Photography: The Modern House

St Anne’s Court in Surrey – currently on the market via The Modern House – has likewise had its listing upgraded after being deemed an example of ‘Queer Architecture’. The Art Deco home built in 1936 by Raymond McGrath for landscape architect Christopher Tunnard and his partner Gerald Schlesinger features a master bedroom designed to be split in two, giving the illusion the men kept separate quarters.

The grave of women’s rights advocate and Egyptologist Amelia Edwards has been granted Grade II-listed status for the first time. She died in 1892 and is buried next to her partner Ellen Braysher in St Mary’s churchyard, Bristol.

shibden-hall
Shibden Hall, near Halifax in West Yorkshire. Photography: Niger Homer / Geography.co.uk

Pride of Place is being spearheaded by historians at Leeds Beckett University’s Centre for Culture and the Arts to mark the 50th anniversary of the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality next year.

The public can add their own suggestions of important LGBTQ sites to Historic England’s interactive map.

Read next: Oscar Wilde’s Reading Jail prison cell opens to the public

Latest

Latest



		
	
Share Tweet