Historians have called for England to celebrate its 1,100th birthday next year.
The Government currently has no plans to commemorate Athelstan being declared the “King of the English” in 927.
That is despite calls from politicians to make July 12 a bank holiday.
Tom Holland, the co-host of The Rest is History Podcast, told The Times: “It is ludicrous that we have this opportunity to mark the birth of our country and nobody cares.”
He added that there had been some “talks among various people”, but they had gone “absolutely nowhere”.
Athelstan, who was already the king of Mercia and Wessex, unified England after expelling the Vikings from York.
On July 12, 927, kings from Scotland and Wales accepted his overlordship.
The Kingdom of England was then recognised until the creation of the United Kingdom in 1707, except for a period of time when it was the Commonwealth.
Plans to celebrate the anniversary, however, have not hit national levels.
Campaign group “England’s 1,100th” is now creating material to be used in schools in an effort to raise awareness of the historic moment.
Sir Ed Davey, whose constituency is where Athelstan was crowned, led calls for July 12 to be a bank holiday.
But those calls have, so far, garnered little support – one public petition on the Parliament website has only 326 signatures.
BRITAIN’S HISTORY – READ MORE:
Schoolchildren taught vital lessons of Remembrance at moving Lincolnshire ceremonyResidents rally around community to save local town’s Armed Forces DayOldest pub in England officially revealed by experts thanks to tree-ring dating
Andrew Rosindell, the Reform MP, also suggested a bank holiday in a Parliamentary question.
“While an additional bank holiday may benefit some communities and sectors, the cost to the economy is considerable,” the Government responded.
“The latest analysis estimates the cost to the UK economy for a one-off bank holiday to be around £2billion.”
Mr Holland said there was more to the moment than just a day off work.
He said: “The point of celebrating is that so much of what makes England what it is originates with Athelstan.
“It’s not just the conquest and annexation of the north, but the tradition he embodies and represents carries into the present.”
The historian said the ancient king was a firm believer in the rule of law and was committed to charity.
He added that England’s “long and valuable traditions” should be celebrated, and recognise that “these things don’t appear by magic”.
“They have an origin,” Mr Holland declared.
Our Standards:
The GB News Editorial Charter
