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A Guide to Bank Holidays Across the UK
Every year, the UK celebrates a number of Bank Holidays, which get their name because banking institutions are typically closed for the day. In May, most people get to enjoy two, on the first and last Mondays of the month.
But if you do move to any of the Home Nations apart from England, what different Bank Holidays can you expect to enjoy? Hamiltons Removals have been offering high-quality commercial and domestic removals packages to all parts of the UK for almost 30 years. Here, as a useful guide to help you fit into life in a new country, we look at which public holidays are the same, and which are different.
Ones Which are the Same…
New Year’s Day – January 1st is marked across the whole of the UK (England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the crown dependencies of the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey) as well as the Republic of Ireland.
Good Friday and Easter Monday – although the exact date on which these fall in April or March varies from year to year, they are also both public holidays in almost all the above countries. The exceptions are the Republic of Ireland (where Good Friday isn’t a bank holiday) and Scotland (where Easter Monday isn’t).
The First Monday in May – again, the Early May Bank Holiday is marked across all countries.
The Last Monday in May – only Ireland doesn’t have a Bank Holiday on this date, which is either known as the Late May Bank Holiday or the Spring Bank Holiday.
December 25th and 26th – Christmas Day and Boxing Day (St Stephen’s Day) are both celebrated across all countries and crown dependencies.
…and the Ones Which are Different
January 2nd – If you are considering removals to Scotland, you should know that the Scots like to celebrate on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, collectively known as Hogmanay, with plenty of parties and food. Festivities often last into January 2 as well, in some cases giving people time to recover or catch up with friends or family they haven’t seen over the Christmas and New Year period.
March 17th – St Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, and this is marked with a public holiday in the country.
May 9th -Liberation Day is celebrated as a public holiday on Jersey and Guernsey. This marks the date when the two islands were released from Nazi rule in 1945 after a five-year occupation during World War II. It is marked with processions and parades, particularly in Jersey’s capital, St Helier.
The June Bank Holiday – previously observed as Whit Monday until 1973, the June Bank Holiday is a public in the Republic of Ireland.
The first Friday in June (Senior Race Day) – this is only commemorated on the Isle of Man and marks the blue riband event in the world-famous Isle of Man TT motorcycle race. The races, above, have been held on the island’s roads every year since 1907, and are among the most thrilling and dangerous in the world.
July 5th – Tynwald Day in the Isle of Man. Tynwald is the name of the Isle of Man’s parliament, originally founded by Norsemen in 979 AD, and Tynwald Day, as well as being a public holiday on the island, also marks the day of the parliament’s annual outdoor sitting.
There are also concerts, firework displays and other attractions held on the island, so it’s not just a political or ceremonial occasion. It was originally celebrated on June 24th until the Gregorian calendar was adopted in 1753.
July 12th – is the anniversary of the 1690 Battle of the Boyne, which is marked with a public holiday in Northern Ireland. Even though it’s a protestant celebration with marches held by protestant organisations, it is a day for everyone. If you are thinking of moving house to Canada or the USA, it is marked in some areas of those countries too.
The first Monday in August – the Summer Bank Holiday is celebrated on the first Monday in August in Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.
The last Monday in October – called the October Bank Holiday or the Halloween Holiday is celebrated in the Republic of Ireland. It coincides with half-term break in schools, and the end of daylight saving time. Although this bank holiday is a recent phenomenon, having only been introduced in the 1970s, many arts festivals, concerts, and Halloween themed events are held on this day.
November 30th – in the same way that Ireland recognises St Patrick’s Day, Scotland does the same on November 30th with St Andrew’s Day.
Removals to all Parts of the UK with Hamiltons Removals
Hamiltons Removals provide quality removals to all parts of the UK and the Republic of Ireland.
We don’t just move your belongings, we can pack and unpack them as well. We also offer many linked services such as competitively priced insurance, and if you want to store some of your items, we have two Safe N Stored self-storage facilities on the Suffolk/Norfolk border.
Other services we offer include video surveys, which are proving invaluable as we stick to the Government’s coronavirus guidelines, and we can also supply you with a detailed quote remotely as well.
Photo: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS/Geograph.org.uk
What’s in a House Name (or Number)?
Every home in England has to have one – and you could get in trouble if it isn’t clearly displayed. We’re not talking about a water or electricity supply (although it must be considered fit for human habitation) but about your house name or number.
Here Norfolk removal company Hamiltons Removals, who have been helping people move to houses all across the UK for almost 30 years, look at the history of house names and numbers in this country, and what, if anything, you are allowed to do about changing it.
From Numbers…
The trend for house numbering in the UK first really took hold in large towns and cities, where a lot of houses were built at the same time. Before the 18th century, when the population was smaller, names were enough. However, once homes were built in large numbers, there had to be a quick and easy method of identification, so a numbering system was introduced. This was established by an Act of Parliament in 1765.
Typically, houses on the left side of the street were given odd numbers and houses on the right side even numbers, with the lowest numbers usually nearest to the town centre. However, this hasn’t always the case – some older cul-de-sacs are numbered consecutively. Perhaps the best example of this is Downing Street in London, where the Prime Minister’s official residence is No. 10 and the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s is next door at No. 11.
…to Names
However, the growth of suburban housing, which was accelerated by the rail network, meant that there was a big rise in the number of new homeowners. Numbering wasn’t an option for many of these new suburban houses as they weren’t built in complete streets but one at a time, in line with individual demand. This meant the new class of homeowner had the opportunity to choose their own house name. So, what were the most popular choices?
A Trade or a Previous Use – sometimes people named their houses after their profession, which is why you see so many properties called School House, Mill House, The Old Forge or The Old Bakery. Sometimes the property may have originally been used for that purpose, but it has since been converted into housing as demand for these old trades diminished.
Another Place – before the growth in private housing, the only people who had any say in what their houses were called were the landed gentry, and the names of their stately homes were usually taken from the nearby village.
The new breed of homeowner was happy to continue this principle by using another place name. This could be somewhere local, or hundreds of miles away – giving rise to unlikely combinations, such as Clovelly Cottage, Finchley (North London and Devon are 225 miles apart). Often the borrowed name is from a beauty spot.
The Rural Idyll – many of the most popular house names today have natural themes – such as Rose Cottage, Orchard House, Yew Tree Cottage or The Firs. Some are named after animals and birds, such as Rookery Nook and Badgers Cottage. Often these are chosen by homeowners who have retired to the country, or just because they wanted a pleasant-sounding name.
Recent Crazes – tastes change, and many people choose house names for more recent, cultural reasons. For instance, during the past decade there has been a big rise in the number of homes with Harry Potter themes, or the TV series Poldark and Game of Thrones.
Can I Add a House Name?
The short answer is yes – but only if the local council and Royal Mail say so. You have to stay with your original house number (if you have one) so the emergency services know where to come. However, you are allowed to add a name on top of that, provided no one else has already claimed it.
If the Royal Mail give their approval, you will have to tell the Land Registry, your utility providers and the Electoral Roll. There may be some administrative expense involved. Once all that’s done, you can tell everyone about your new house name.
UK House Removals from Hamiltons Removals
Wherever you want to move to in the England, Norfolk removal company Hamiltons Removals will be able to help. We can offer free online removals quotes – for more details, click here – and you can also book a free video survey with us at a time to suit your own convenience (and which avoids any issues with social distancing).
We can also help you whether if are considering moving to Scotland or Wales. To get in touch, follow this link or call us on 01379 855203 or email us on info@hamiltonsremovals.co.uk.