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Early modern and modern
Britain’s Last Line of Defence
14,690 pillboxes and defences of 1940: the planned German landing beaches had 2.3 times the average density.
This is an interactive data study by Dr Tristan Hotham, built from open data. The map runs in your browser: explore it, search for places and switch layers. The write-up explains the method and what the data shows, and the data and code are open for anyone to reuse.
More in Early modern and modern
The Turnpike TownsEngland's 1,245 turnpike trusts and 10,927 surviving milestones and toll houses: did the towns on the turnpikes grow faster? Not that the data show.
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The Lido Boom and BustAn open register of 73 British lidos: 33 of 49 dated openings came in the 1930s, and 14 closed pools have reopened.
Did the Pits Closing Still Show?167 of 196 deep mines closed between 1984 and 1994. Forty years on, pit towns have 2.0 points more adults long-term sick than similar towns.
Bombs on BritainAll 61,542 civilians on the CWGC's Second World War roll for the UK, town by town: 51% died outside London.
Ring the ChangesAll 7,262 rings of change-ringing bells in Dove's Guide, mapped: jubilees, world wars and seven centuries of bell founding.