The vote is now closed. The winners will be announced on 10 September 2026.
From windmills to military hospitals, organisers across the South East have brought fascinating local histories to life using Findmypast. The winning team will be named England’s Everyday History Heroes and will receive £1,000 to continue their work.
Brixton Windmill
Brixton Windmill is one of London's last surviving working windmills and a rare reminder of the capital's agricultural past. Once surrounded by fields, it supplied flour to generations of local residents before being rescued by the community from decline. Their 2026 Heritage Open Days event explores the lives of the workers at this remarkable local landmark, using Findmypast's census records and newspapers.
Royal Victoria Chapel
During its lifetime, thousands of soldiers passed through the Royal Victoria Hospital, once the largest military hospital in the world. Their 2026 Heritage Open Days event uses Findmypast's records and newspapers to reveal the everyday people who kept this vast institution running, from nurses to engineers.
Friends of Horton Cemetery
Between 1899 and 1955, 9,000 patients from Epsom's psychiatric hospitals were buried at Horton Cemetery. Today, volunteers are celebrating the life stories of each person buried and hope one day to restore their final resting place to a site which honours their memory with respect. Their 2026 Heritage Open Days programme uses Findmypast's records and newspapers to restore names and dignity to people who were too often forgotten.
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