ENGLANDISM
England 1100: 927 to 2027
Let’s celebrate our legacy
England 1100: 1,100 Years of England, 927–2027
On July 12th 2027, England reaches the milestone of 1100 years since Æthelstan of Wessex, unified the kingdoms of England to establish the ‘kingdom of the English’.
Counting down to Bank Holiday Monday, 12th July 2027. Set for a spectacular climax at 1100 hours Zulu(Z) Time UST, Greenwich, London, England.
Why 2027?
Celebrating 1100 years since the foundation of England on July 12th 927AD.
In 927 AD, King Æthelstan brought together the major Anglo-Saxon territories of England under one central authority after gaining control of York and, thereby, the A1 and Northumbria.
At Eamont Bridge in Cumbria he met with other rulers, including Constantine of Scotland, confirming submission to a unified Kingdom of the English.
The Anglo Saxon Chronicle records the foundation of England on July 12th in Cumbria with Æthelstan subsequently assuming the title Rex Anglorum: King of the English.
In 937 he defeated, more or less everyone, and became Rex totius Britanniae.
Who was Æthelstan?
King of Wessex, son of Edward the Elder and grandson of Alfred the Great.
And the first king of all the English. In 925 he was crowned at Kingston Upon Thames, the clue’s in the name, after uniting the Anglo Saxon kingdoms in 927 he went onto decisively defeat an alliance of Vikings, Scots and Britons at Brunanburh in 937.
Æthelstan died in 939 returning to the heart of Wessex at Malmesbury, Wiltshire, where his original tomb remains.
There are no plans at Westminster, the British legislature and executive, to commemorate the establishment of the founding state of the United Kingdom 1100 years ago. Indeed, the only anniversary being celebrated in 2027 is the defeat of Anglo Saxon England at Hastings in 1066 (and all that).
Æthelstan meets St Cuthbert at Chester-le-Street on his way to invading Scotland in 934. In 937 he went on to defeat a combined army at Brunanburh confirming English supremacy.
England 1100. Monday 12th July 2027.
Should England mark its 1100th anniversary? Wales has St David’s Day, Scotland has St Andrew’s Day, and Northern Ireland has St Patrick’s Day and all three are official annual public holidays in those nations.
England? St George’s Day on April 23rd is not a public holiday. It might be nice to be graciously granted a day by the British government, perhaps once every 1000 years, to celebrate English identity? And July 12th 2027 just happens to be on a Monday, it’s not close to any other existing English public holidays and the weather is usually quite nice in July.
“The Government has no plans to create a one-off bank holiday to mark the 1100th anniversary of the unification of England under King Athelstan.” October 2025.
Reasons not to have a bank holiday
England is inconvenient and a bit of prick in the Westminster bubble
- English nationalism: it could strengthen the sense of an English national identity and encourage demands for greater political recognition.
- Devolution: it would contradict and question the government’s agenda to reduce the English nation to competing regions.
- Union sensitivities: it might question Westminster’s wider message about the United Kingdom and the Union.
- Historical sensitivities: it could generate discussion and debate about Anglo Saxon identity and origins in the modern political context.
- Political extremism: it could be hijacked by nationalistic activists with a supremacist agenda.
- Off message: it contradicts the 2027 celebration of the Norman defeat of England at Hastings.
- Cost: it would be too expensive.
- That’s it.
- Unless celebrating the 1100th birthday of the oldest, useful, nation in Europe which makes up 85% of the UK population and invented modern global political and industrial civilisation is a bad thing.
- Which it most probably is. Or so they tell us…
Reasons to have a bank holiday
England has been quite the global success: let’s party like it’s 927
- English civic patriotism: it would bring communities together in a civic and cultural celebration of our identity.
- Devolution: it would encourage analysis and democratic input into the subdivision of England in the year of our 1100th birthday.
- Union sensitivities: it would give equivalent recognition of the English nation within the context of a United Kingdom and the inherent democratic deficit.
- Historical sensitivities: it could promote discussion about our collective history exploring the good, the bad and the sometimes ugly.
- Political extremism: it should be celebrated as a civic birthday party, open to all, and not as an ethnically focused, exclusive, event.
- Off message: it contradicts the 2027 celebration of the Norman defeat of England at Hastings. Or is the Bayeux Tapestry here by pure coincidence?
- Cost: it would be less expensive than moving 9,000 civil servants and building, from scratch, the Manchester Digital Campus alongside other expensive vanity projects, including No.10 North.
It’s a bit of a dilemma then?
The Government’s choice is how we celebrate, not if…
- Monday 12th July 2027 is a fixed date, the 1100th anniversary is coming whether our government likes it or not.
- The tide is coming in. Andy Burnham can be a King Cnut and sit there getting wetter or make the choice.
- The choice is between a constructive, English civic celebration, or a potentially destructive ethnic hatefest.
- Englandism 1999-2009 was about fairness for England in the Labour devolutionary settlement.
- Englandism 2026-2027 is about recognising English civic identity and celebrating our collective contribution to global history. Warts & all.
- England is about 1100 years of continuous existence. Or is a bank holiday commemorating the foundation of England at Eamont Bridge in 927 a bridge too far?
“There are no plans at present for the Government to mark the 1,100th anniversary of the unification of England.” February 2026.
“There is a forgotten, nay, almost a forbidden word, which means more to me than any other. That word is ‘England’.”
Where’s Willy?
Unfortunately, YouTube has age restricted our search for Willy(s) on the Bayeux Tapestry. There are also some kebabs but only in the sense of Fat Boy Slim and a Norman Cook having a BBQ.
Talking of co#ks, the Bayeux Tapestry was actually produced in Canterbury, Kent, by English gentlewomen stitchers. As an act of defiance against the Norman occupation, the ladies of Kent added unauthorised nude images, including a plethora of willies. Some tumescent and some dangling.
If your visiting the Bayeux celebratory display, look out for the naked fella wearing a bobble hat directly beneath Ælfgyva and the cleric. The embroidered, anatomically correct, yellow tinged todger includes appropriate hair coverage.
But not age appropriate so you’ll need to sign in to hunt for medieval members. Or go to the British Museum where you’ll be supplied with a Where’s Willy checklist to tick off your kn#b-spotting. As another starter for ten, study the lower border of the frame feat Harold and William.
Sign the petition?
Someone called Derek had a petition up and running, I don't know Derek but agreed with him: let's get a bank holiday on July 12th 2027. It could be you? Be a Derek and let's get voting...
Derek's petition has expired. If you feel like it you, or Derek, could put another one up and active and we'll link to it. We're keeping anon because we're frit of the HMG Plod 'freedom of thought' enforcement team.
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