Documenting the historical links between people and places as recorded by commemorative plaques
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Plaque Of The Day
Nigel Thomas Irwin Wiskar blue plaque
says, "Another humourous plaque, that gives us a role of "drunken buffoon"."
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
Le Porte d'Honneur Les arcs de la porte double en plein cintre sont à deux rouleaux ; le second, très mouluré, est soutenu par des colonnettes engagées aux cannelures droites et torses, inversées pour chaque baie. Leurs chapiteaux corinthiens sont de très belle facture et témoignent des productions des meilleurs sculpteurs des années 1120-1130. Les baies, autrefois munies de grands vantaux de bois, sont cantonnées de pilastres cannelés des maçonneries, un étage d'attique. Cette composition fut sans doute voulue à l'image des portes antiques. Quelques années après son édification la porte fut transformée en porterie. Située au devant de la grande église abbatiale, elle devait être utilisée pour le cérémonial d'entrée des grands visteurs, avant que ceux-ci ne soient accueillis par l'abbé de Cluny. Au XVIe siècle, sous l'abbatiat de Claude de Guise, celle-ci fut transformée et augmentée d'un second niveau. Le tout était surmonté d'un haut comble en pavillon à l'élévation vertigneuse.
English translation: The Gate of Honour The arches of the semi-circular double door are double-roll; The second, very molded, is supported by pillars engaged with straight and twisted flutes, reversed for each bay. Their Corinthian capitals are very beautiful and testify to the productions of the best sculptors of the years 1120-1130. The bays, formerly equipped with large wooden panels, are lined with fluted pilasters of masonry, an attic storey. This composition was undoubtedly wanted in the image of the ancient gates. A few years after its construction, the door was transformed into a door. Located in front of the large abbey church, it was to be used for the ceremonial entrance of the great visitors, before they were welcomed by the abbot of Cluny. In the sixteenth century, under the abbey of Claude de Guise, it was transformed and augmented by a second level. The whole was surmounted by a high roof in pavilion at the vertiginous elevation.
Rue de l'Abbatiale, Cluny, France
Subjects
Unitarian Church 1858-1985 The Unitarian Church was built in 1858 and demolised in 1985. The church originally stood on Jane Lane, now known as Swinton Hall Road. The church had a steep gable roof, lancet windows and was built in red and white brick.
Swinton Hall Road, Swinton, United Kingdom
Subjects
In memoria dei suoi Gloriosicaduti MCMXV - XVIII Bellagio S. Giacomo [full inscription unknown]
English translation: In memory of his Glorious Fallen 1915 - 18 Bellagio S. Giacomo
Basilica of San Giacomo - Piazza della Chiesa, Bellagio, Italy
Капитан милиции Демьянов Михаил Иванович. Старший инспектор дежурной части Оршанского отдела внутренних дел на транспорте. Погиб 14 марта 1996 года на железнодорожном вокзале ст. Орша при исполнении служебного долга.
English translation: Police Commander, Mr. Diyanov, Mr. I. Senior inspector of the duty unit of the Orsha Department of Internal Affairs on transport. He died on March 14, 1996 at the railway station. In the course of his service.
Privokzal'naya ploschad', 1, Orsha, Belarus
Subjects
The Cherub Free House Higher Street Dartmouth The Cherub, the oldest and sole surviving medieval house in the ancient Borough of Dartmouth. Is believed to have been erected in or about the year 1380. Well and truely described as a rarity of outstanding character, it is of considerable interest in that it enables one to study, within a few yards of each other a typical wooden framed house of a townsman of the XIVth century with the larger and more ornate building of 1865, known as the Tudor House. The building, listed by the Department of the Environment as an extrememly rare West Country example, has numerous features of interest including the very unusual two-2 light windows on the 1st floor of the north wall. These are of a type not previousluy seen. The Cherub is a fully licensed Free house and everyone is cordially invited to enjoy the atmosphere and sample the hospitality of the delightful old building
Higher Street, Dartmouth, United Kingdom
Subjects
Dans cet amphithéâtre, le 5 novembre 1906, Marie Curie première femme professeur à la Sorbonne, donna son premiers cours
English translation: In this amphitheatre, on 5 November 1906, Marie Curie, the first woman professor at the Sorbonne, gave her first lecture
47 Rue des Ecoles, Paris, France
Subjects
Isambard Kingdom Brunel 1806-1859 Celebrating "Brunel 200" This Brunel-designed Great Western Railway station was built in 1856.
old Great Western Railway Station building, Windsor Street, Salisbury, United Kingdom
Subjects
On the site now occupied by the statue of King Charles I was erected the original Queen Eleanor's Cross a replica of which stands in front of Charing Cross Station. Mileages from London are measured from the site of the original cross.
Trafalgar Square / Whitehall, London, United Kingdom
Subjects
Alan Jerrard awarded the Victoria Cross 1918 attended this school 1906-1909
Bishop Vesey's Grammar School, Lichfield Road, Sutton Coldfield, United Kingdom
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William Jay was Minister here 1790-1853
Bath Central United Reformed Church, Argyle Street, Bath, United Kingdom
Subjects
Hier wohnte Paula Dahlheim Jg. 1882 deportiert 15.12.1941 ermordet in Riga
English translation: Here lived Paula Dahlheim Jg. 1882 deported 15.12.1941 murdered in Riga [AWS Translate]
Rehbergstraße 1, Hannover, Germany
Edmund Halley Savilian Professor of Geometry 1703–1742 lived and had his observatory in this house
7 New College Lane, Oxford, United Kingdom
