HISTORIC England has called for more information about any ‘secret, unknown and forgotten’ memorials in Haslemere and other towns and villages in Surrey and East Hampshire it thinks should be treasured.

As part of its nationwide appeal, the public heritage body is asking people in the South East to share their knowledge of memorials deserving of a wider audience.

It is requesting photographs and information about the region’s lesser-known memorials – those that are well-loved by small groups or communities but unknown nationally.

It is also looking for rituals and activities attached to memorials.

Information supplied will be recorded to form part of an exhibition in the autumn, and the best examples of community memorials may be listed by Historic England as part of its efforts to protect and champion what’s special in the historic environment.

The hunt is part of ‘Immortalised’, a season launched by Historic England to help people explore the country’s memorial landscape, which will include events, an exhibition, a debate and a design competition.

A series of well-documented challenges to the memorials of figures including Cecil Rhodes and Edward Colston, and the absence of representations of women and people of colour from statues in our cities and squares has brought the subject to the fore in recent months.

The historian and commentator David Olusoga has dubbed recent rows ‘the history wars.’

Olusoga has been named as one of the participants in a live debate that is being organised by Intelligence Squared as part of Immortalised, in partnership with Historic England.

The event, ‘Contested statues: How should we memorialise the past?’ will take place on May 14. Tickets can be purchased at www.intelligence squared.com

Not only will Immortalised address a well-documented dearth of women, working people and people of colour in England’s collection of statues, but also highlight the many “tucked away” monuments and statues that memorialise people from all walks of life and tell fascinating stories.

Historic England chief executive Duncan Wilson said: “We are creatures of memory, and every generation has commemorated people in the built environment.

“Their stories may involve episodes of heroism or generosity and be inspirational, or they may involve episodes which are shameful by today’s standards.

“They all tell us something about the lives of our ancestors. This is a terrifically important subject and that’s why we have launched the Immortalised season.

“One of Historic England’s most important jobs is to work with the public to identify and record information about what’s embedded in our streets, squares and parks, and to share it with others to enable current and future generations to understand and value their local historic environment.

“Exploring the stories and histories of less well-known people and groups is an important part of this, and that’s what today’s call out to the public is all about.”

•See www.historicengland. org.uk/immortalised to find out more about the project.