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

explore 54130 plaques

So far, plaque hunters around the world have found, photographed, and curated 54130 plaques. Use the search box in the top-right corner, or browse plaques by person, place

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Plaque Of The Day

Bram Stoker black plaque

Jez says, "The windswept views of Whitby bay inspired Bram Stoker, now you can sit in the same spot!"

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

Geburtshaus des richters Georg Trakl 1887-1914

English translation: Birthplace of the poet Georg Trakl 1887-1914

Waagplatz, Salzburg, Austria

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1889 Sheffield United F.C. formed. Bramall Lane stages the first lawn tennis tournament

Sheffield United Football Club, Bramall Lane. Cherry Street., Sheffield, United Kingdom

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Early English Bowling Green Possibly 13th century Chesterfield Bowling Club Erected by Chesterfield Civic Society Crafted by Chesterfield College Students

Beetwell Street , Chesterfield, United Kingdom

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THE SCOTT MONUMENT Erected 1840-44 to the Memory of SIR WALTER SCOTT Bart. 1771-1832 Born in Edinburgh. Lawyer and ardent Patriot, he won enduring fame as a romantic poet and the author of the Waverley novels. The monument was designed by George Meikle Kemp and the statue of Scott is by Sir John Steell.

Princes Street, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

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The Co-operative Union Limited the Co-operative Union is a federation of co-operative societies in the United Kingdom for the purpose of propagandist and defensive action. Its Objects Are 1. To establish & organise co-operative societies. 2. To diffuse a knowledge of the principles of co-operation by advice and instruction - literary, legal and commercial. This building was erected by the voluntary contributions of 794 co-operative societies members of the union to perpetuate the memory of the late George Jacob Holyoake one of the pioneers of co-operation, who for nearly 70 years was a strenuous worker for liberty and reform. Born 1817, Died 1906

Hanover Street, Manchester, United Kingdom

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Dame Gracie Fields 1898-1979 entertainer built this house for herself in 1934

20 Frognal Way, Hampstead, London, United Kingdom

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Normandy Way So named to commemorate the men of the United States Navy who passed this was to embark for the Normandy Beaches, there to assault the enemy on "D" Day, Tuesday, the 6th of June, 1944. An amphibious force of 66 ships of the United States Navy, with many auxiliary vessels, sailed from the port of Salcombe on the 4th of June, 1944, to take part in this great enterprise.

Normandy Way, Salcombe, United Kingdom

1785-1865 creator and first director of The Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew Sir William Jackson Hooker RH FRS LLD CDL the great botanist lived here

Hooker House, Quay Street, Halesworth, United Kingdom

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St. Matthew's Chapel opened with the cemetery in 1867. Closed 1956. Demolished late 1960s

St. Matthews Road, Burntwood, United Kingdom

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BBC Music Day 2017 #BBC West Midlands 2

John Henry Bonham 1948-1980 was born here. Drummer with Led Zeppelin who sold over 200 million albums.

84 Birchfield Road, Headless Cross, Redditch, United Kingdom

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En hommage au dessinateur Francisque Poulbot qui a vécu dans cette maison et y mourut le 16 Septembre 1946.

English translation: In tribute to the cartoonist Francisque Poulbot who lived in this house and died there on September 16, 1946. [AWS Translate]

13 rue Junot, Paris, France

Ian Allan Publishing Heritage Railway of the Year Award presented to South Devon Railway by Rt. Hon. Gwyneth Dunwoody M.P.

The Railway Station, Buckfastleigh, United Kingdom

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