Documenting the historical links between people and places as recorded by commemorative plaques

explore 54210 plaques

So far, plaque hunters around the world have found, photographed, and curated 54210 plaques. Use the search box in the top-right corner, or browse plaques by person, place

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Plaque Of The Day

Terence MacSwiney blue plaque

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.

  1. George Orwell 1903-1950 novelist & political essayist lived here (19526 page views)
  2. Jacob von Hogflume 1864-1909 Inventor of time travel. lived here in 2189 (15077 page views)
  3. George Orwell 1903-1950 novelist and political essayist lived here (6390 page views)
  4. Jimi Hendrix 1942-1970 guitarist and songwriter lived here 1968-1969 (5714 page views)
  5. 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)
  6. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 1859-1930 creator of Sherlock Holmes lived here 1891-1894 (3846 page views)
  7. Alan Turing 1912-1954 code breaker lived here from 1945-1947 (3679 page views)
  8. This building housed the offices of Charles Dickens' magazine 'All The Year Round' and his private apartments 1859-1870 (3339 page views)
  9. Dame Agatha Christie 1890-1976 detective novelist and playwright lived here 1934-1941 (3027 page views)
  10. 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

The Jolly Sailor The name of this public house is a reminder of the nearby River Avon and it situated on High Street, which follows the line of a Roman Road. The earliest recorded landlord was Charles Coole, who was in charge 1853-1874. The Jolly Sailor is a former George's Brewery pub, originally the Old Porter Brewery, established in 1788. George's Brewery closed in 1995.

High Street, Bristol, United Kingdom

Subjects

Gloucester Quay Gloucester owes much of its early prosperity to its location on the River Severn and received formal status as a port through a Royal Charter of 1580. The old quay was much frequented by sailing trows and barges working between Bristol and Shrewsbury, and continued to be used well into the 20th century. The present quay wall was constructed in 1887-8.

, Gloucester, United Kingdom

CANUTE CHAMBERS This building housed the offices of The White Star Shipping Company, owners of RMS Titanic which sank on April 15th 1912 after striking an iceberg on her maiden voyage. It was here that hundreds of local people waited for news of their loved ones. 549 Southampton people died in the disaster.

Canute Road, Southampton, United Kingdom

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Acquired by William Windover, Merchant, in 16th century. Richard II and Queen Ann feasted the Franciscan Friars Minor here in 1393.

Windover House (nos. 22–24), St Ann Street, Salisbury, United Kingdom

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Radynden Gate. The ancient manor of Radynden lay to the south of the gate. Above are the arms of Sir John De Ranynden 1274-1350 since assumed ex the county of Sussex

Preston Park, Brighton, United Kingdom

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To commemorate the birthplace of one of America's first Naval officers and a hero of the American Revolution Captain John Paul Jones 1747 - 1792.

Arbigland Estate, Kirkbean, United Kingdom

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Sylfaenydd ysgol therapi galwedigaethol gyntaf y du - ganed yma. Dr Elizabeth Casson. 1881-1954. Founder of the first UK school of occupational therapy. Born here.

Ruthin Road, Denbigh, United Kingdom

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Robert Reid (Rob Wanlock) Author of "Kirkbride" Moorland Rhymes etc Born at Wanlockhead 1850 Died at Montreal 1922 Great lover of this "Auld grey glen" and the kindly dwellers in it.

Old Library Row, Wanlockhead, United Kingdom

Sir Terence Rattigan C.B.E. playwright lived here

79 Marine Parade, Brighton, United Kingdom

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Hier wohnte Gertrud Dahlheim Jg. 1884 deportiert 15.12.1941 ermordet in Riga

English translation: Here lived Gertrud Dahlheim Jg. 1884 deported 15.12.1941 murdered in Riga [AWS Translate]

Rehbergstraße 1, Hannover, Germany

In this house the Right Hon. Cecil John Rhodes kept academical residence in the year 1881. This memorial is erected by Alfred Mosely in recognition of the great services rendered by Cecil Rhodes to his country.

6 King Edward Street, Oxford, United Kingdom

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In this house The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood was founded in 1848

7 Gower Street, Camden, WC1, London, United Kingdom

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