Tintin fans and tourists can now visit historic 17th-century tomb linked to Captain Haddock in Essex | Travel

The admiral is believed to have inspired the character of the ill-tempered Captain Haddock in Belgium author Herge’s “Adventures of Tintin”. Known for his inventive expletives like “blue blistering barnacles!”, the comic captain was a seafarer like Richard Haddock. (Also read: White Christmas at risk: How climate change is impacting winter tourism )

Mary Haddock’s tomb recognised as remarkable historic site in England

Mary Haddock’s tomb is “notable as a single monument dedicated to a named woman in a period of gender inequality”, according to Historic England, which announced “17 remarkable and unusual historic buildings and places” listed this year on Wednesday.

Other quirky additions include a brutalist concrete Baptist church in Bristol, southwest England, which has a Tesco supermarket on its ground floor and is known locally as the “church above the shops”. Historic England classed the 1960s building as a “striking example of post-war church architecture”. A former bungalow-style maternity ward and an early 20th-century fingerpost — a crossroads signal with pointing fingers at the ends of the direction arms — were also listed as Grade II sites this year.

The annual roundup highlights little-known and quirky heritage sites among the 211 buildings and sites of historic interest listed in 2024. Heritage Minister Chris Bryant said it was a celebration of the “hard work to protect and preserve some truly unique buildings and places that have helped shape our cultural history.”