Armistice Day: beautiful photos of poppies from around Britain

    Poppies Weeping Window installation at St Magnus Cathedral, Orkney
    Photo: Michael Bowles. © Getty Images. Courtesy of 14-18 Now

    As we approach Remembrance Day, we’ve rounded up some of the most beautiful and moving poppy photos from around Britain from past Armistice Days

    On 17 July 2014, artists Paul Cummins and Tom Piper marked the centenary of Britain entering the First World War by opening the art installation, Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red (above). For this, the duo filled the Tower of London’s moat with 888,246 ceramic, handmade poppies – one for each British military fatality during the war.

    The installation proved so popular that two smaller versions – Weeping Window and Wave – Spent the next four years touring the UK. Here are eight of our favourite photos from the red flowers on location…

    1. CWGC Plymouth Naval Memorial, Plymouth
    This 1924 memorial on the iconic Plymouth Hoe hosted Wave in 2017.

    Wave installation at CWGC Plymouth Naval Memorial, Plymouth
    Photo: Matt Keeble/Getty Images. Courtesy of 14-18 Now

    2. Caernarfon Castle, Gwynedd
    Weeping Window’s Welsh debut saw thousands of poppies spill from the battlements.

    Weeping Window installation at Caernarfon Castle, Gwynedd
    Photo courtesy of 14-18 Now

    3. Woodhorn Museum, Northumberland
    The 55-foot Heapstead colliery wheel swapped coal for poppies in 2015.

    Weeping Window installation at Woodhorn Museum, Northumberland
    Photo: Colin Davison. Courtesy of 14-18 Now

    4. Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Wakefield
    In 2015, a Wave of crimson rose from YSP’s historic Lower Lake.

    Wave installation at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Wakefield
    Photo: Getty. Courtesy of 14-18 Now

    5. St Magnus Cathedral, Orkney
    The poppies debuted in Scotland on the isle of Orkney, which is the former home of the Navy’s Grand Fleet.

    Weeping Window installation at St Magnus Cathedral, Orkney
    Photo: Michael Bowles. © Getty Images. Courtesy of 14-18 Now

    6. Hull Maritime Museum, Yorkshire
    Weeping Window visited Hull Maritime Museum during the northern city’s stint as UK City of Culture 2017.

    poppies
    Photo: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire. Courtesy of 14-18 Now

    7. Barge Pier, Southend-On-Sea
    Wave hit Barge Pier in Shoeburyness where many First World War British guns were designed.

    Wave installation at Barge Pier, Shoeburyness, Southend-on-Sea
    Photo: Ian Gavan/Getty Images. Courtesy of 14-18 Now

    8. Imperial War Museum North, Manchester
    The final stop on the 14-18 Now tour sees the Wave pour forth from Daniel Liebeskind’s iconic museum building.

    Photo: Andrew Tunnard. Courtesy of Imperial War Museum North

    Read more:

    Lest we forget: meet the First World War Victoria Cross heroes

    Remembrance day: What does the poppy stand for?

    New issue: Issue 231 of Discover Britain is here!

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