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

explore 54181 plaques

So far, plaque hunters around the world have found, photographed, and curated 54181 plaques. Use the search box in the top-right corner, or browse plaques by person, place

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Plaque Of The Day

John Dryden black plaque

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.

  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 Statutes of Marlborough 1267, Henry III. An Act of Parliament passed in the Great Hall of Marlborough Castle near this place. "He made many statutes for the betterment of his realm and the manifestation of Common Justice"

College Gates, Bath Road, Marlborough, United Kingdom

Subjects

Blue Bell Inn Grade II listed building 1745 and 1911 One of only four public houses listed in the 1626 Manor Survey of Rochdale. The Blue Bell (rebuilt 1746) derives its name from the medieval church bell traditionally painted blue

Yorkshire Street, Rochdale, United Kingdom

Subjects
Texas Historical Marker #12259

Asbury Cemetery. The first recorded burial on this site was that of Asbury Lowery (1836-1855). The new burial ground was named in his memory. In 1863, Prairie Flower (1858-1863), the young daughter of celebrated Comanche Indian captive Cynthia Ann Parker and Comanche Chief Peta Nocona, was interred here when she died while living with relatives of her mother. In 1965 her remains were removed to the post cemetery at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, to be re-interred near the graves of her mother and brother, Chief Quanah Parker, during ceremonies attended by both Comanche and Anglo descendants. A Texas Ranger named Adren Anglin (1796-1865) also was buried here in the early years of the graveyard. H. W. and H. L. Walker donated two acres including the existing Asbury Chapel and Cemetery to trustees of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, in 1879. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, family members and descendants of the deceased observed a cemetery memorial day by coming together to clean the grounds and share food and fellowship. Eventually, Asbury Chapel merged with the Edom Methodist Church. The first cemetery board of directors was organized in 1945 while John W. Miller (1884-1975) was caretaker. Maintained by an association, the cemetery contains almost 400 recorded and marked burials and approximately 30 unmarked graves. Among the unmarked graves is believed to be that of pioneer Van Zandt County settler Esable Lindsey and six of her children. The Asbury Cemetery continues to be a chronicle of the pioneers of Van Zandt County. (1998) Incise on base: Researcher: Iona Pinckard Miller #12259

?, Edom, TX, United States

Vice-Admiral Sir William Clarkson KBE, CMG, RAN 1859-1934 co-founder of the Royal Australian Navy born here

10 St. Hilda's Terrace, Whitby, United Kingdom

Subjects

Hier wohnte Elfriede Rosen geb. Kunert jg. 1911 Deportiert 3.3.1943 Ermordet in Auschwitz

English translation: Elfriede Rosen

Liebigstraße 23, Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, Berlin, Germany

Subjects

LE XXIX JUIN MDCCC BONAPARTE POSA LA 1ERE PIERRE DE CES EDIFICES IL LES RELEVA PAR SA MUNIFICENCE

English translation: THE 29 JUNE 1800 BONAPARTE LAID THE 1st STONE OF THESE BUILDINGS IT RAISED THROUGH HIS MUNICIPALITY

Rue Colonel Chambonnet, Lyon, France

Subjects

Sun Hotel formerly known as The Little Inn made famous by Chas. Dickens in his travels thro' Kent Built 1503

, Canterbury, United Kingdom

Subjects

North-west angle tower. This is the position of the stone tower at the north-west corner of the Roman fortress. It was built soon after A.D.103, and was discovered during the construction of St. Martin's Gate in 1965. The tower was 30 feet wide and 27 feet deep, with walls a little over 4 feet thick. It marks the point at which the Roman and Medieval defences diverge. The fortress was here turning southwards towards Holy Trinity Church which is on the site of the Roman west gate (porta principalis dextra).

, Chester, United Kingdom

Subjects

Copse Cross Toll Gate erected by the Ross Turnpike Trust in 1748

, Ross-on-Wye, United Kingdom

Subjects

Gray School. On this site stood the Gray School, a well-loved Old Township seat of learning. Names after Rev. Robert Gray, rector of Sunderland Parish 1819-1838.

, Sunderland, United Kingdom

Subjects

Ici est tombe le 25 Aout 1944 le sapeur Prochasson André du Regiment de Sapeurs-Pompiers de Paris Mort pour la Liberation

English translation: Here falls August 25, 1944 the sapper Prochasson André of the Regiment of Sapeurs-Pompiers de Paris Death for Liberation [AWS Translate]

116 Avenue des Champs-Elysées, Paris, France

John Grundy. Writer and broadcaster. Passionate enthusiast for the history and architecture of the North East.

Quayside, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom