Documenting the historical links between people and places as recorded by commemorative plaques
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Plaque Of The Day
Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson blue plaque
Jez says, "Really so sad that Rik Mayall died so suddenly. Great to see this spoof plaque go up so quickly. Now all we need is someone in Hammersmith to get us the photo!"
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.
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.
- George Orwell 1903-1950 novelist & political essayist lived here (19526 page views)
- Jacob von Hogflume 1864-1909 Inventor of time travel. lived here in 2189 (15077 page views)
- George Orwell 1903-1950 novelist and political essayist lived here (6390 page views)
- Jimi Hendrix 1942-1970 guitarist and songwriter lived here 1968-1969 (5714 page views)
- 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)
- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 1859-1930 creator of Sherlock Holmes lived here 1891-1894 (3846 page views)
- Alan Turing 1912-1954 code breaker lived here from 1945-1947 (3679 page views)
- This building housed the offices of Charles Dickens' magazine 'All The Year Round' and his private apartments 1859-1870 (3339 page views)
- Dame Agatha Christie 1890-1976 detective novelist and playwright lived here 1934-1941 (3027 page views)
- 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
Martha Lachmann [full inscription unknown]
English translation: Martha Lachmann
Fasanenstr. 60, Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, Berlin, Germany
Subjects
This stone marks the site of Hoe Grammar School 1867-1941, perpetuates the name of Alderman George Pearse Dymond J.P., M.A. principal & headmaster 1887-1939, and was unveiled on 11th June 1968, by his son, F. J. Dymond, B.Sc., A.R.I.C., on behalf of the Old Drakonians Association (former pupils). Fortiter et fideliter.
Lockyer Street, Plymouth, United Kingdom
Subjects
North Carolina Highway Historical Marker #E-90
Brick School. Est. for blacks in 1895 through philanthropy of Mrs. Joseph K. Brick; became junior college in 1926. Closed, 1933. Buildings stood here.
US 301 at Bricks, NC, ,
Edna St. Vincent Millay 1892-1950 The irreverent poet, who wrote "my candle burns at both ends" lived here in 1923-24 at the time she wrote the "Ballad of the Harp-Weaver," for which she won a Pulitzer Prize.
75 1/2 Bedford Street, New York, NY 10014, New York, NY, United States
Subjects
Admiral Sir John Borlase Warren BART GCB distinguished naval officer, Privy Councillor, diplomat, politician, freemason born and lived at Stapleford Hall
Walter Parker VC Memorial Square, 71 Derby Road, Stapleford, United Kingdom
Subjects
Texas Historical Marker #03593
Nichols Cemetery. Born about 1805, Rowland Nichols settled in Kerr County where he served as county commissioner. Upon his death at the hands of Indians, Nichols was buried, as he wished, under a live oak tree on his farm on April 11, 1859. This site became a community burial ground and the burial place of many area pioneers, including J. C. W. Ingram (1829-1902), for whom the town of Ingram was named. Additional property was later purchased from Lafayette Nichols to enlarge the cemetery. For over a century Nichols Cemetery has served the residents of this part of Kerr County. (1982) #3593
?, Ingram, TX, United States
On this corner site stood a wholesale dairy and milk processing depot for local farmers. This building, once the Drayton Hotel, serves as offices and a laboratory for South Eastern Farmers Ltd. from 1927 until 1965.
6 Station Road, Petersfield, United Kingdom
Kentucky Historical Marker #2412
Rotary Club of Louisville. First Rotary club in Ky. and 45th in the world. First met on July 26, 1912 and then weekly at the Henry Watterson Hotel from 1912-1924. The Rotary’s service theme led to creation of Ky. Soc. for Crippled Children. At club’s 100th anniv. the Rotary Promise Scholarships were created to provide college tuition for needy students. (Revese) Henry Watterson Hotel- Opened April 29, 1912 on Walnut Street. With 10 floors and 250 rooms, hotel was popular meeting location for civic events, state and national conventions. Named for long-time Courier-Journal editor, Henry Watterson. Designed by Brinton B. Davis, who designed Louisville Gardens and Ky. Hotel. Demolished in 1981.
415 Muhammad Ali Blvd., Louisville, KY, United States
Simón Bolívar El Libertador the great Latin American statesman and patriot who liberated Bolivia Colombia Ecuador Panama Peru & Venezuela stayed in this house in 1810
4, Duke Street, W1, London, United Kingdom
Subjects
D. H. Lawrence 1885-1930 Novelist and Poet Lived and wrote here
Mountain Cottage, Middleton by Wirksworth, United Kingdom
Subjects
GWR Road Motor Services The Lizard to Helston Station bus service inaugurated in August 1903 was the first railway-operated motor bus service in the UK.
, The Lizard, United Kingdom
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Richard Bentley FRS DD born in 4/5 Bentley Square; educated at Wakefield Grammar School and Cambridge; Keeper of The King's Library at St James and Master of Trinity College, Cambridge. His brilliant translation and reappraisal of classical texts made him one of England's greatest and most controversial scholars. 1662-1742
Bentley Square, Calverley Rd, Oulton, LS26, Leeds, United Kingdom