England, England is the name given to Rupert Murdoch-like Character Sir Jack Pitman’s last great idea.
This sees Sir Jack’s company, Pitco, recreating England’s top historic and cultural attractions on the Isle of Wight, advertised as: “Everything you imagined England to be, but more convenient, cleaner, friendlier and more efficient.”
Wembley Stadium, Buckingham Palace, a half-sized Big Ben, the National Gallery, Stonehenge, Shakespeare and Princess Diana’s graves, in addition to renactments of the Battle of Britain and the sailing of the Mayfl ower (every Thursday morning at 10:30am) can be enjoyed all within close proximity of each other on the Isle of Wight.
The people of England play a starring role in all this, identifying too closely with their assumed characters: the smugglers begin smuggling and Robin Hood and his band really do become outlaws.
All this is supported by market research to assess what is quintessentially English and what people really know about English history. While I am not convinced that the original can ever be truly be replaced by the replica, there is some appeal in experiencing a bucolic happy representation of the past.
England, England is a fun and cynical take on representing a nation’s history to make visitors feel good. It questions what is real, what is the truth and what people want.
Sarah Riddle is a curator at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall in Falmouth
This sees Sir Jack’s company, Pitco, recreating England’s top historic and cultural attractions on the Isle of Wight, advertised as: “Everything you imagined England to be, but more convenient, cleaner, friendlier and more efficient.”
Wembley Stadium, Buckingham Palace, a half-sized Big Ben, the National Gallery, Stonehenge, Shakespeare and Princess Diana’s graves, in addition to renactments of the Battle of Britain and the sailing of the Mayfl ower (every Thursday morning at 10:30am) can be enjoyed all within close proximity of each other on the Isle of Wight.
The people of England play a starring role in all this, identifying too closely with their assumed characters: the smugglers begin smuggling and Robin Hood and his band really do become outlaws.
All this is supported by market research to assess what is quintessentially English and what people really know about English history. While I am not convinced that the original can ever be truly be replaced by the replica, there is some appeal in experiencing a bucolic happy representation of the past.
England, England is a fun and cynical take on representing a nation’s history to make visitors feel good. It questions what is real, what is the truth and what people want.
Sarah Riddle is a curator at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall in Falmouth
