Documenting the historical links between people and places as recorded by commemorative plaques

explore 56170 plaques

So far, plaque hunters around the world have found, photographed, and curated 56170 plaques. Use the search box in the top-right corner, or browse plaques by person, place

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Plaque Of The Day

Arthur Sullivan bronze plaque

Jez says, "This is terribly sad when you look into the story. Arthur Sullivan received a Victoria Cross for extreme gallantry in rescuing four members of his platoon in Russia in 1919. In 1937 he was attending the coronation of King George VI when he slipped and hit his head on the kerb. The blow was fatal."

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bardwellpeter on Flickr CC0
Place Of The Day

Norwich, United Kingdom

Norwich has a long history. It has been a city since 1094. From the Middle Ages until the Industrial Revolution, Norwich was the largest city in England after London and one of the most important. This is refelected in its plaques.

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Most-viewed plaques

In the last 11 years, between 20 May 2009 to 6 Jan 2021, Open Plaques had 4,530,517 page views from 1,234,480 users. Some were triggered by internet memes such as Steve Ullathorne's 2012 image of a George Orwell plaque with a CCTV camera next to it. Others, such as those for Alan Turing, were probably triggered by an anniversary and campaign for recognition.

  1. George Orwell 1903-1950 novelist & political essayist lived here (19526 page views)
  2. Jacob von Hogflume 1864-1909 Inventor of time travel. lived here in 2189 (15077 page views)
  3. George Orwell 1903-1950 novelist and political essayist lived here (6390 page views)
  4. Jimi Hendrix 1942-1970 guitarist and songwriter lived here 1968-1969 (5714 page views)
  5. Alan Turing 1912-1954 founder of computer science and cryptographer, whose work was key to breaking the wartime Enigma codes, lived and died here. (4085 page views)
  6. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 1859-1930 creator of Sherlock Holmes lived here 1891-1894 (3846 page views)
  7. Alan Turing 1912-1954 code breaker lived here from 1945-1947 (3679 page views)
  8. This building housed the offices of Charles Dickens' magazine 'All The Year Round' and his private apartments 1859-1870 (3339 page views)
  9. Dame Agatha Christie 1890-1976 detective novelist and playwright lived here 1934-1941 (3027 page views)
  10. The Peterloo Massacre. On 16th August 1819, a peaceful rally of 60,000 pro-democracy reformers, men, women and children was attacked by armed cavalry resulting in 15 deaths and over 600 injuries. (3006 page views)

recently photographed plaques

Sir Joseph William Bazalgette 1819-1891 civil engineer lived here

17 Hamilton Terrace, St John's Wood, Westminster, NW8, London, United Kingdom

Subjects

Ashtree Farm. Built in three stages over the centuries, this farmhouse had become derelict and dilapidated and was saved from demolition and restored by Bill Hardman in 1970. Yeoman farmer John Wilson, who was born here, married Elizabeth Green of Bebington in 1697 and had a marriage stone put into the front gable wall.

Hadlow Road, Willaston, United Kingdom

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George Bennie (1892-1957). To commemorate George Bennie's Railplane which was tested here on the 8th July 1930. The bullet-shaped carriage with a propeller at each end was reputed to be the forerunner of the modern monorail. It was suspended from a single rail on a 426ft long purpose-built test track 20ft above the former L.N.E.R. Railway Line, situated the the east of this plaque.

Milngavie Road, Glasgow, United Kingdom

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Hier wohnte Siegfried Jalowitz Jg. 1895 Deportiert 1943 Ermordet in Auschwitz

English translation:

Kleine Alexanderstraße 12/13, Mitte, Berlin, Germany

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Carlton Terrace. This large terrace was designed by Dobson in about 1840 on a road laid out by him in the 1830’s.

31 Jesmond Road West, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

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Texas Historical Marker #08939

Texas and Pacific Depot. The Texas and Pacific Railroad was built eastward to Bonham in 1873. A small wooden depot erected that year was replaced by this larger brick structure in 1900. Damaged by fire in 1918, the depot was rebuilt the following year and continued to serve customers until 1950. The structure's Romanesque Revival style reflects 19th-century architectural trends, while elements such as the knee-brace eave brackets reveal 20th-century influences. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1990 #8939

One N. Main St., Bonham, TX, United States

In memory of Auxiliary Fireman Albert Edward Arber who served under Station 32 Bow and who died as a result of enemy action buried by falling masonry at the junction of St Stephens Road and Athelstane Grove on the night of 19th/20th March 1941 when a high explosive bomb demolished two houses near this site

Athelstane Grove, Bow, London, United Kingdom

Subjects

Les premiers paratonnerres. Sébastien Mercier, témoin de la première apparition en 1782 de l'invention de Benjamin Franklin, a décrit ainsi dans son "Tableau de Paris": "Ces grands appareils sont rares dans la capitale. M. l'abbé Bertholon, professeur de physique expérimentale des états généraux de la province de Languedoc, est celui qui a montré le plus de zèle pour opposer les armes merveilleuses de la physique aux surprises de la foudre. Il a dirigé la construction des premiers paratonnerres de Paris. Le second est sur le couvent des religieuses augustines anglaises de la rue des Fossés Saint-Victor. Il a 188 pieds de long; et la portion enfoncé dans la terre, qui se perd ensuite sous l'eau, est de 90 pieds: profondeur à laquelle nul autre paratonnerre de ce genre n peut être comparé". Publiée par l'Académie des sciences à la requête du ministère de l'Intérieur, la première instruction officielle sur la construction des paratonnerres date seulement de 1823.

English translation: The first lightning rings. Sébastien Mercier, witness of the first appearance in 1782 of Benjamin Franklin's invention, described in his “Tableau de Paris”: “These great appliances are rare in the capital. Abbé Bertholon, Professor of Experimental Physics of the General States of the Province of Languedoc, was the one who showed the most zeal to oppose the wonderful weapons of physics to the surprises of lightning. He led the construction of the first paratonnerres de Paris. The second is on the convent of English Augustine nuns on Rue des Fossés Saint-Victor. It is 188 feet long; and the portion of the earth, which is then lost underwater, is 90 feet: depth to which no other lightning bolt of this kind can be compared.” Published by the Academy of Sciences at the request of the Ministry of the Interior, the first official instruction on the construction of lightning rods dates only from 1823. [AWS Translate]

46 rue des Boulangers, Paris, France

James Clerk Maxwell 1831-1879 Pioneering physicist of electromagnetic radiation, molecular science and colourimetry lived in this building from 1856 to 1860 while Professor at Marischal College, later the University of Aberdeen

Back Wynd Stairs, off Union Street, Aberdeen, United Kingdom

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Ernest Darwin Simon (1879-1960) and Shena Dorothy Simon (1883-1972) purchased Wythenshawe Hall and Park as a gift to the City of Manchester in 1926

Wythenshawe Hall, Wythenshawe Park, Wythenshawe Rd, Manchester, United Kingdom

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Hier wohnte Grete Blum Geb. Hackel Jg. 1891 Deportiert 17.11.1941 Kowno Ermordet 25.11.1941

English translation:

Ackerstr. 83-84, Mitte, Berlin, Germany

Subjects

Here lived Edward Capell censor of plays, & Shakespearean commentator, and David Garrick was his frequent visitor here. This commemorative tablet was unveiled on June 1:1914 by Stephen Phillips, Esq:

All Saints Street, Hastings, United Kingdom

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