Documenting the historical links between people and places as recorded by commemorative plaques
contribute
- You are all part of our mission to find all of the plaques in the world!
- Spotted one? Anyone can help us and add a plaque
- Take a photo. Add it to Wikimedia Commons or Flickr and link it to our record
- Spot an innaccuracy. Tell us.
Open Data
news
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for updates.
Plaque Of The Day
Jez says, "Poor Adrian, he died of rabies contracted from the bite of a mad fox"
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
Texas Historical Marker #12686
Swedish Hill. Residential development of this area began in the 1870s when a number of Swedish immigrants erected homes near their downtown businesses. Initially bounded by Red River, 14th, 18th, and Navasota streets, the neighborhood became known as Svenska Kullen (Swedish Hill). A Swedish Methodist and other Swedish churches were built in the area, which was later divided by the interstate highway. A number of historic houses remain in the section of Swedish Hill that is east of the interstate. the neighborhood was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. #12686
?, Austin, TX, United States
Augustus John 1878 - 1961 artist was born here
Belgrave hotel, esplanade, Tenby, United Kingdom
Subjects
Engineering Heritage Award Lion Locomotive Todd, Kitson & Laird of Leeds Star of track and film, Lion is the oldest locomotive to have been steamed in Britain. Built in 1838, Lion worked for 20 years on the Liverpool & Manchester Railway, before being sold to Mersey Docks and Harbour Board as a stationary pumping engine. Rescued in 1927, this 0-4-2 represents the typical British locomotive of her era
The Great Port, Museum of Liverpool, Pier Head, Liverpool Waterfront, Liverpool, United Kingdom
Subjects
Golden Gate Park North Dutch Windmill Originally constructed 1902 Restoration completed 1981 The restoration of this historical landmark was made possible by Mrs. Eleanor Rossi Crabtree through her personal fund raising efforts, the many contributers, and the labor donated by Reserve Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Two "Her dream has become a reality" The citizens of San Francisco are grateful for the efforts of Mrs. Eleanor Rossi Crabtree and to all those who contributed A Recreation and Park Commission project Dianne Feinstein, Mayor City and County of San Francisco Thomas Malloy, General Manager Recreation and Park Department Restoration under the direction of the Department of Public Works Bureau of Engineering Reserve Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Two Treasure Island Commanding officers Capt. J.R. Collins CEC, USNR-R Capt. D.J. Sifferman CEC, USNR-R Cdr. R.J. Walter CEC, USNR-R
1691 John F. Kennedy Drive, San Francisco, United States
York has been a centre of railway management since 1840. This building, now the Headquarters of British Rail, Eastern Region, was the Head Office of the North Eastern Railway from 1906 (designed by William Bell and Horace Field). The badges above are of the York and North Midland Railway (top), the Leeds Northern Railway (left), and the York, Newcastle and Berwick Railway (right), which formed the North Eastern Railway in 1854 and in 1923 became part of the London and North Eastern Railway.
The Grand, Station Rise, York, United Kingdom
Subjects
The North Bar. This Bar Stone marks the Northern boundary of the built up area of the medieval town of Leeds
The Old Red Bus Station, Vicar Lane, Leeds, United Kingdom
Subjects
Kilns were built to turn limestone with the fossils it contained into the quick lime that was used in mortar for building. The lime works of E.R. Burtt were founded here in 1816.
Burgess Park, Albany Road, London, United Kingdom
Subjects
_Elvira_Fromm.jpg?width=250)
Elvira Fromm [full inscription unknown]
English translation: Elvira Fromm
Rolandstraße 4, Steglitz-Zehlendorf, Berlin, Germany
Subjects
The Swan Inn Early 1500s wattle and daub, timber-framed building. Owned in 1744 by the wealthy House family, comprising eleven acres, house, malt house, barn, stables and malt lofts. In the 1830s the Luton to London coach called and a blacksmith worked here until the 1930s. Grade II listed
High Street, Wheathampstead, United Kingdom
The Pergola, built in three stages 1906-1925 was taken into public ownership and fully restored by the Corporation of London. The restoration was completed in April 1995.
Inverforth Close, Hampstead, United Kingdom
Subjects
Will Yo Come O' Sunday Morning On Sunday 6th September 1896 10,000 Boltonians marched by this spot to reclaim an ancient right of way over Winter Hill. The path is now dedicated as a public right of way for the enjoyment of all.
Coalpit Road, Bolton, United Kingdom
Brunel's Engine House The tunnel shaft and pumping house for Marc Brunel's tunnel was constructed between 1825 and 1843. This was the first thoroughfare under a navigable river in the world.
Near Brunel Museum, Railway Avenue, Rotherhithe, SE16, London, United Kingdom
_Elvira_Fromm.jpg){kind=link}
