In 1871, the first legislation relating to bank holidays was passed when Sir John Lubbock introduced the Bank Holidays Act 1871 which specified the bank holdiays days in England, Wales, Ireland as Easter Monday , Whit Monday (First Monday in May), First Monday in August &
Boxing Day
additional information
in 1971 The last Monday in August was formally made a bank holiday in place of the first Monday in August in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. this followed a trial period of the new arrangement between 1965 and 1970.