Documenting the historical links between people and places as recorded by commemorative plaques
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Plaque Of The Day
Jez says, "The creation of this plaque caused questions over commemorating people who are still alive. The English Heritage rules are quite strict to prevent the 'cult of now', but should other groups follow suit?"
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
Fred Perry Tennis Player 1909-1995 Frederick John Perry was born in Stockport. Member of Britain's winning David cup team 1933 - 1936 Winner of the men's singles at Wimbledon 1934, 1935 and 1936. Made a Freeman of Stockport Borough in 1934.
, Stockport, United Kingdom
Subjects
Hier wohnte Marianne Steinberg geb. Schulenklopper Jg. 1886 unfreiwillig verzogen 1937 Hamburg Flucht 1941 Shanghai Palästina überlebt
English translation: Here lived Marianne Steinberg née Schulenklopper Jg. 1886 involuntarily deserted 1937 Hamburg escape 1941 Shanghai Palestine survived [AWS Translate]
Marktstraße 10, Neustadt am Rübenberge, Germany
Douglas Macmillan MBE 1884-1969 Founder of Macmillan Cancer Relief lived here
Upper High Street, Castle Cary, United Kingdom
Subjects
Proclamation Steps From time immemorial Royal Proclamations have been read to the townspeople from these steps.
Mill Street, Calne, United Kingdom
Subjects
This stone marks the spot where on August 28th 1658, after the surrender of the town, the two Royalist Captains Sir Charles Lucas and Sir George Lisle, were shot by order of Sir Thomas Fairfax, the Parliamentarian General.
Colchester Castle, Colchester, United Kingdom
Subjects
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Elizabeth Monatagu 1718-1800 Founder member of the 'Bluestocking' movement writer and patron of the arts lived here
Treasurer’s House, Minster Yard, York, United Kingdom
Subjects
Texas Historical Marker #17187
Carriage Step on Prairie Street. A carriage step is a block of stone or concrete placed at the street as a courtesy to guests stepping out of carriages and was a symbol of prominent families in the community. These steps are remnants of a time when livery stables, blacksmith shops, hitching posts and watering troughs lined the streets. In 1879, the Robert Robson family sold the Prairie Street home to R. S. Stephens, a railroad purchasing agent, and his wife, Bettie Thatcher. The carriage step at this house is in the original location and is the only known carriage step in Columbus. Along with the watering stough at the Colorado County Courthouse, the carriage step is a surviving relic of an earlier era. #17187
1118 Prairie Street, Columbus, TX, United States
Subjects
Mairie du XVIIIe arrondissement. Depuis1882, la municipalité de Paris se préoccupait de remplacer l'ancienne mairie de Montmartre, élévée place des Abbesses en 1836. Le préfet de la Seine, Eugène Poubelle, fit acheter en 1885 un terrain situé sur la place Sainte-Euphrasie, repaptisée Jules Joffrin en 1895; le temps pressait, il n'y eut donc pas de concours, et la commande fut confiée à Marcelin-Emmanuel Varcollier (1829-1895). Cet ancien élève et collaborateur de Baltard était déja depuis 1883 architecte officiel de la ville. Il sut séduire le jury par l'originalité de son projet, déposé en 1888: autour d'un grand hall central couvert d'une verrière, les services municipaux sont répartis sur un plan en trapèze; à l'étage, une bibliothèque, une salle des fêtes et deux salles des mariages. Une façade éclectique associe des pilastres de style Renaissance à des frontons Louis XV: elle est précédée d'un porche à cinq arcades, orné de deux statues de Gustave Crauk, la Liberté et la Fraternité. Le décor intérieur de la salle des fêtes, boiseries sculptées et dorées et plafond peint étoilé, est l'oeuvre de l'architecte Claës. L'inauguration eut lieu le 17 juillet 1892.
English translation: Town hall of the 18th district. Since 1882, the Municipality of Paris had been concerned to replace the old town hall of Montmartre, which had risen to Place des Abbesses in 1836. In 1885, the prefect of the Seine, Eugène Poubelle, bought a plot on the Place Sainte-Euphrasie, repaptised Jules Joffrin in 1895; time was running out, so there was no competition, and the order was entrusted to Marcelin-Emmanuel Varcollier (1829-1895). This former student and collaborator of Ballate was already an official architect of the city since 1883. He was able to seduce the jury by the originality of his project, tabled in 1888: around a large central hall covered with a glass roof, the municipal services are distributed on a trapeze plan; on the floor, a library, a festive hall and two rooms of the marriages. An eclectic façade combines Renaissance pilasters with Louis XV pediments: it is preceded by a five-arched porch, adorned with two statues of Gustave Crauk, Liberty and Fraternity. The interior decor of the festive hall, carved and golden woodwork and starry painted ceiling, is the work of architect Claës. The inauguration took place on 17 July 1892. [AWS Translate]
rue du Mont Cenis at Place Jules Joffrin, Paris, France
The Point. Confluence of Ohio and Licking Rivers. Christopher Gist, Agent of the Ohio Company, was first white man known to have set foot on Point, 1751. The Lieutenant of Kentucky Co., Va., Col. John Bowman, led expedition from here against Shawnee Indians in Ohio, 1777. Gov. Isaac Shelby rendezvoused 4,000 Ky. troops here before his victory at the Thames, 1813. Over. [full inscription unknown]
Riverside Street, Covington, KY, United States
Subjects
Texas Historical Marker #12452
Calhoun County Hurricanes. Severe storms with high winds, heavy rains and tidal surges, hurricanes have played a significant role in events that shaped Calhoun County's history. Entire towns, including Indianola (a key Gulf seaport and Calhoun County seat) and Saluria (Republic-era port on Matagorda Island) were destroyed by 19th-century storms. Over the centuries, residents have dealt with wind and water damage to property, and lives have been lost during hurricanes. Stories of survival and rebuilding in the aftermath of these torrential storms also figure prominently in Calhoun County history. (2001) Incising on back: Erected by Calhoun County Historical Commission, George Fred Rhodes, chairman #12452
200 S. Ann St., Port Lavaca, TX, United States
Be still & remember Robert Parsons who resurrected this house and garden
, Newark Park, United Kingdom
The Rose Salterne. These licensed premises are named after the heroine of Westward Ho!. This famous historical novel is set in Bideford, where it was written by Charles Kingsley, in 1854. In the early 19th century the Rev. Alford, Master of Bideford Grammar School, lived in a house more-or-less on this site. It was replaced by 'a set of Public Rooms', in 1871 which later became the Palace Cinema. The cinema closed in 1962 and was, itself, replaced by Ford & Lock's supermarket, later a carper and furnishing store and now a Wetherspoons feehouse.
, Bideford, United Kingdom