THREE places in the region have made the top ten of a list of spiritual locations that represent English national identity.

The Holy Island of Lindisfarne, Fountains Abbey at Ripon and Lady’s Well, near Holystone, in Northumberland are among the places chosen by Reverend David Ison, Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral for the Historic England project.

Rev Ison has judged the Faith and Belief category of A History of England in 100 Places, and is one of a panel of expert judges, which includes Professor Robert Winston, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, Mary Beard and Tristram Hunt.

They have been asked to choose their top ten places in a range of different categories, from a long list of public nominations.

Duncan Wilson, chief executive of Historic England, said: “The history of faith and belief in England is rich and complex.

“These ten places, chosen from the public’s nominations, can teach us so much about our collective identity.”

The other spiritual locations on Rev Ison’s list are: Stonehenge, Salisbury; Brick Lane Mosque, London; St Andrew’s Church, Essex; Canterbury Cathedral and St Martin’s Church, Canterbury, Kent; Jewish Cemetery, Falmouth, Cornwall; Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Smethwick, near Birmingham and Farfield Quaker Meeting House near Ilkley, West Yorkshire.

Mr Wilson said: “They tell us about dissent, conflict, tolerance and kinship between believers, as well as how the practice of faith has influenced and been influenced by the landscape.

“They show how England has a long history of people from different faiths leaving their mark in a legacy of special buildings and places which still make a strong spiritual connection today.”