Documenting the historical links between people and places as recorded by commemorative plaques
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Plaque Of The Day
Jez says, "A record of a foul deed! The Earl of Rochester must have had it in for Dryden. I wonder what he had done?!"
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
Sir Adrian Boult CH 1889-1983 conductor lived at flat No. 78 1966-1977
78 Marlborough Mansions, Cannon Hill, West Hampstead, Camden, NW6, London, United Kingdom
Subjects
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Staple Inn Hall, built in the 16th Century, stood on this site until destroyed by a flying bomb in the 24th August 1944. The Hall was rebuilt in its original form in 1955, incorporating timber & other materials saved from the old building
Chancery Lane, Holborn, London, United Kingdom
Subjects
HMS Conway was built in 1839 as a 92 gun wooden battleship and converted in 1876 to a school ship. She was anchored in the Mersey for many years before being moved to North Wales where she was wrecked in the Menai Straits in 1953. Among the relics saved from the old battleship is this anchor. Donated by The Conway Club.
Merseyside Maritime Museum, Hartley Quay, Albert Dock, Liverpool, United Kingdom
Subjects
George Wishart, 1513 - 1546. A powerful Protestant preacher, he was betrayed to Cardinal Beaton, brought here, put in the Sea Tower, condemned for heresy and burnt at the stake on 1 March. The lettering GW on the roadway marks where he died. His friends conspired against the Cardinal, and on 26 May gained entry to the Castle, killed him and hung his body from the battlements. Then together in the Castle they created the first congregation of the Protestant Church in Scotland.
Castle, St Andrews, United Kingdom
Subjects
Thomas Paine 1737-1809 Anglais de naissance Américain d'adoption Français par décret a vécu dans cet immeuble de 1797 à 1802. Il mit sa passion de la liberté au service de la Révolution française, fut député à la Convention et écrivit Les Droits de l'Homme. « Lorsque les opinions sont libres, la force de la vérité finit toujours par l'emporter. »
English translation: Thomas Paine 1737-1809 English born American adoption French by decree lived in this building from 1797 to 1802. He put his passion for freedom at the service of the French Revolution, was a member of the Convention and wrote Human Rights. “When opinions are free, the strength of truth always prevails.” [AWS Translate]
10 de la rue de l'Odéon, Paris, France
Subjects
Texas Historical Marker #04206
Rawleigh Porteus Smyth. (August 4, 1855 - February 2, 1941) An Austin native and graduate of the Texas Military Institute, R.P. Smyth became a Brigadier General after Spanish American War duty. As a surveyor, he ran boundaries (1887) of the Two Buckle and other South Plains ranches and platted towns of Plainview, Happy, Tulia, Kress. Married Florence Tucker (d. 1894); was a Masonic leader. As a state legislator, 1897, helped make laws to aid Plains settlers. As an irrigation advocate, helped to create area's agricultural empire. Recorded 1975 #4206
100 S Joliet, Plainview, TX, United States
Telephone kiosk circa 1927 (pavement nearby) K4 style "The Vermillion Giant" Designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott Only fifty were made and this is believed to be one of only four examples known to survive Listed - Grade II
12 Church Street, Frodsham, United Kingdom
Subjects
John Francis O'Donnell patriot poet and journalist born in this house 29 July 1837 [full inscription unknown]
English translation:
20 Gerald Griffin Street, Irishtown, Limerick, Ireland
Texas Historical Marker #11549
Walnut Street Church of Christ. Completed in 1920, this classical revival sanctuary first served the congregation of the Walnut Street Church of Christ since 1963, when it moved to a new site, the congregation has ties to the 1850s. Members built this edifice to serve as their third sanctuary. The chapel is a two-story raised structure with a central stairway, grand portico, and 48 stained glass windows. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1986 #11549
315 S Walnut, Sherman, TX, United States
Maggie's Corner. In fond memory of Maggie Richardson 1901-1974 who sold flowers here for 60 years
1 Hampstead High Street, NW3, London, United Kingdom
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Helga Cohn [full inscription unknown]
English translation: Helga Cohn
Czarnikauer Str. 12, Pankow, Berlin, Germany
Subjects
En esta casa nació el 25 de junio de 1860 el ilustre poeta Narciso Díaz de Escovar. MCMXXXII
English translation: The illustrious poet Narciso Díaz de Escovar was born in this house on June 25, 1860. MCMXXXII
Calle San José, 12, Málaga, Spain
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