THE public is being asked to help uncover the secrets of some of the country’s most treasured places.

Historic England is crowdsourcing knowledge and photographs for the official list of the nation’s 400,000 most significant buildings, sites and landscapes.

This is the first time in history The List has been opened up for public contribution, with 12,297 listed buildings and thousands of other locations located in the North-East.

Insights into the region’s railway heritage are especially welcome and Historic England has been working with local partners to protect important sites for future generations.

Bowes Railway, designed by George Stephenson and opened in January 1826 to serve the newly-sunk Springwell Colliery in County Durham, is of particular interest. The railway expanded to serve other mines in North Durham and is one of the country’s earliest and best preserved rope-haul railways.

Other places of interest include the remains of the Stockton Darlington Railway, the world’s first public railway to use steam locomotives; Causey Arch, a bridge near Stanley in County Durham; and the High Level Bridge that links Newcastle and Gateshead.

Roger Bowdler, director of listing at Historic England, said: “The List is a free resource holding details of the most significant of these, so they can be understood and protected for the future. Many buildings on the list are well-known and even world-famous. But in some cases there is much that remains unknown. That’s why we need your help – so we can share images, insights and understanding of England’s special places, and capture these for future generations.”

To add your contributions to The List, visit HistoricEngland.org.uk/list or share their on social media using @HistoricEngland #ListEngland