Politicians are calling for a commemoration of English history
Neil Shaw Network Content Editor
08:03, 05 Jan 2026
There could be another day off to add to the calendar
England could get a new bank holiday to celebrate the country’s first king, with an anniversary about to raise awareness of the ‘forgotten’ monarch. Most schools only teach English royal history, going back to the Battle of Hastings in 1066, with people learning about William I as the ‘first’ king.
However, it was King Aethelstan who first united England as one country in 927 AD, meaning 2027 will be the 1,100th anniversary of his achievement. Many are now calling on the Government to declare a new bank holiday to commemorate July 12, 927, when Aethelstan united England as one country at Eamont Bridge in Cumbria
Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey told the BBC : “I certainly think the 1,100th anniversary of the birth of England absolutely deserves a bank holiday. I think it’s really important that the mainstream debate reclaims patriotism around our history.
“This is the evidence of how long we go back in our proud history. And I think true patriots would want that bank holiday.”
King Aethelstan was one of the most significant rulers in early English history and is often regarded as the first King of England . He was the grandson of Alfred the Great and the son of Edward the Elder, inheriting a strong legacy of leadership and reform.
Aethelstan became king in 924. During his reign, he succeeded in uniting England under one ruler. In 927, he captured York, bringing the Viking-controlled north under his authority. This achievement marked a major step toward the creation of a single English kingdom.
His power was firmly secured in 937 when he defeated a large alliance of Vikings, Scots, and Britons at the Battle of Brunanburh. This victory is often seen as one of the most important battles in early English history, as it ensured the survival and unity of the English kingdom.
Aethelstan was not only a strong military leader but also a highly educated and law-focused king. He issued detailed laws to improve justice and order and strongly supported learning and the church. He also maintained close relationships with European rulers, arranging marriages between his sisters and foreign kings to strengthen diplomatic ties.
Aethelstan died in 939 and was buried at Malmesbury Abbey rather than in Winchester, where many earlier kings were laid to rest. His reign played a crucial role in transforming England from a collection of separate kingdoms into a unified nation.
MP Alex Burghart MP, who is backing calls for a celebration, told The Telegraph: “The birth of the Kingdom of England, the crown, the pound, the Shire system, the basis of the law, a lot of our towns, all of that really came out of the 10th century, and it’s still with us today.
“Aethelstan is this combination of an amazing administrator and a great warrior, and he manages to cement the legacy of his grandfather Alfred by creating a United Kingdom of English speakers.”
Kate Dinn of the Department of Business and Trade said: “There are any number of significant events in our history we would love to mark with bank holiday, but we can’t do them all.”
A petition was launched in a bid to get the Government to debate the bank holiday. It reads: ” The 1100th Anniversary of Alfred styling himself ‘King of the Anglo Saxons’ was widely marked in 1986, and therefore I think it’s appropriate to begin planning to commemorate the 1100th anniversary of another of the most significant events in England’s founding.
“Whilst this is a suggestion for a one off bank holiday, I think the timing of this holiday is also preferable to another new English bank holiday that some propose, St George’s Day, as St George’s Day takes place on 23 April each year, close to a number of other existing bank holidays.”