England

On July 28, 2008, the Grand Pier at Weston-Super-Mare burned down. This classic seaside icon dates from 1904 but had first burned and was rebuilt in the 1930s. When the newly reconstructed pier opened in October 2010, more than 100,000…

On July 23, 1933, architect Richard Rogers was born in Florence. His family moved to England during WWII. He has designed many notable buildings including the Senedd in Cardiff, the Pompidou Centre in Paris, and London's Millennium Dome.

Natural arches - also known as natural bridges - are formed when relatively soft rock is worn away by the action of tides, rivers or weather erosion, leaving behind a bridge-like structure of harder rock. Although there are thousands around…

On July 15, 1573, British architect Inigo Jones was born. He had parallel careers in theatrical staging and architecture, with the latter producing many notable buildings around London. One fine example is the Banqueting House in Whitehall, the first neo-classical…

Strawberries and cream, anyone? The first Wimbledon Tennis Championship began on this day in 1877, at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Twenty two players took part, with Spencer Gore becoming the winner ten days later, winning a…

On June 18, 1942, Paul McCartney was born. His childhood home was 20 Forthlin Road in Liverpool. Fifteen years later he joined John Lennon's band The Quarrymen before going on to form a new band that you may have heard…