Documenting the historical links between people and places as recorded by commemorative plaques
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Plaque Of The Day
Jez says, "This slightly seditious plaque appeared in Brixton. Nice use of grafitti."
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
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Texas Historical Marker #05306
The Church of Saints Peter and Paul. German Cathlic colonists, who came to New Braunfels in 1845, obtained their promised church and school site (1847) when Bishop John M. Odin deeded four lots here on "Lustiger Strumpf" (Happy Stocking) Hill -- so called from its shape. A log cabin at first, and then a walnut wood chapel stood here. Since 1871 this Gothic church of native linestone has crowned the hill. The church steeple, felled by an 1881 storm, was rebuilt and had a clock added in 1889. Franciscan Conventual Fathers, Benedictines, and Sisters of Divine Providence have, by turns, conducted school. 1976 #5306
386 N. Castell, New Braunfels, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #11642
Temple Beth-El. The earliest Jewish settlers in Corsicana arrived in 1871, the year rail lines were built to the area. In 1898 a group of reformed Jews established Temple Beth-El. Two years later they built this house of worship, which features two distinctive octagonal towers with onion-shaped domes. Corsicana's Jewish residents have made many significant contributions to the city's growth and development, and the Temple now serves as a reminder of their rich heritage. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1981 #11642
208 S. 15th St., Corsicana, TX, United States
Peterloo Demonstration 16 August 1819. The Middleton contingent congregated here on Barrowfields and marched to St Peter's Field in Manchester led by Sam Bamford. The meeting, popularly known as the "Peterloo Massacre", was in support of the vote for the working classes. 16 Middleton people were injured.
Bardsley Street, Middleton, United Kingdom
Subjects
Frederic Chatfield Smith MP 1823-1905 Smith's Bank, South Parade, Nottingham lived at Bramcote Hall demolished 1969
Bramcote Hall gate, Moss Drive, Bramcote, United Kingdom
Subjects
The Station House John Brough's farmhouse preceded all other buildings on this site. Residents of Grange came here in Victorian times to buy their milk and other dairy products. By 1866 under an act of Parliament during the great Queen's reign, this structure was converted into a "Station House with strongroom for the temporary confinement of persons taken into custody by the Constables". Deeds relevant to these premises show that it was in fact Grange's first Police Station. Remnants of old cells remain behind the house. An inscription date "ISI 1684" can be seen above, but is of dubious origin
The Station House, Main Street, Grange-over-Sands, United Kingdom
Subjects
In a house on this site lived Benjamin Waugh when in 1884 he founded the N.S.P.C.C. "The only voice which reached him was the cry of the child"
33 The Green N14 (now Salcombe Pre School, was Bank), London, United Kingdom
Subjects
17th century - originally thatched Roman numerical carpenters marks allowed prefabrication of oak timbers where trees were felled Listed Grade II
84 Main Street, Frodsham, United Kingdom
The Silley Family. Owners of the original Theydon Grove House 1921-1963 landowners, employers & philanthropists
Theydon Grove, Epping, United Kingdom
Subjects
Kentucky Historical Marker #1261
O'Bannon House. Lt. Presley N. O'Bannon, USMC, the first American to raise our flag on foreign soil, April 17, 1805. Barbary coast pirates who were holding 180 American seamen for ransom were overcome in an attack led by O'Bannon. He came to Logan County in 1807. Served in state legislature 1812, 17, 20-21, and Senate 1824-26. Died in 1850. His remains moved to Frankfort, 1920.
S. Main St., Russellville, KY, United States
Le Vieux-Colombier En 1913, Jacques Copeau, cofondateur de la N.R.F., réunit queques comédiens et fait aménager la salle de l’Athénée Saint-Germain, baptisée “Théâtre du Vieux-Colombier.” Il voulait créer un rajeunir l’interprétation, l’art du décor et de la mise en scène. Cet essai de rénovation l’amène à privilégier l’oeuvre et l’acteur. Après le départ de Jouvet et de Jules Romains, Copeau se retire en 1924. D’autres expériences théâtrales et cinématographiqués se poursuivent cependant, telle la création du “Huis Clos” de Satrre en 1944; les spectacles se succèdent jusqu’à la fermeture en 1997. Seconde salle de la Comédie française, ce lieu mythique, consancré au répertoire contemporain, revit depuis avril 1993.
English translation: The Old Colombier In 1913, Jacques Copeau, co-founder of the N.R.F., brought together some actors and arranged the hall of the Athénée Saint-Germain, called “Théâtre du Vieux-Colombier.” He wanted to create a rejuvenate interpretation, the art of decor and staging. This attempt of renovation led him to focus on the work and the actor. After the departure of Jouvet and Jules Romains, Copeau retired in 1924. Other theatrical and cinematographic experiments continued, however, such as the creation of Satrre's “Huis Clos” in 1944; the performances continued until the closing in 1997. The second room of the Comédie française, this mythical place, consaned with contemporary repertoire, has relived since April 1993. [AWS Translate]
21 rue du Vieux Colombier, Paris, France
You are just crossing the line of Worcester's medieval defence's. Built during the early 13th century, these included a ditch, a bank and a stone wall, part of which is visible in the front of this building. The defences repelled attackers and showed off the wealth of the city, while gates in the walls controlled the passage of traders and other visitors in and out of the city. St Martin's Gate, one of the four principal entrances, lay not far to the north of where you are now standing. Outside the walls the ditch was often illegally used as a rubbish tip. As a result the City Council had to regularly have it cleaned out. This was not only to maintain the defences but more importantly because the stinking contents of the ditch posed a health hazard. Inside the walls was a busy city crowded with churches, merchants' houses, dwellings and workshops as well as the cathedral and castle. The defences were extensively repaired during the English Civil War (1642-51) but were then largely demolished or filled in. Today no remains of the ditch or bank are visible but some of the best surviving sections of the wall can be seen along City Walls Road.
Footbridge above City Walls Road, Worcester, United Kingdom