Documenting the historical links between people and places as recorded by commemorative plaques
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Plaque Of The Day
Oliver Chapman says, "This was my first photo to be shown on Open Plaques. Am chuffed to help a great resource. It's just around the corner from my work in Southwark and is an incredibly tranquil spot devised by the great Victorian reformer Octavia Hill as an open space for the urban working class. It is as valued now by the local community as I'm sure it was then."
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
Bob Geldof Boomtown Rats, The Boomtown Rats met regularly here and this is where Bob Wrote "Rat Trap"
Bewelys Grafton Street, Dublin, Ireland
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queste pure e salubri acque dalla sorgiva presso il reno trasse qui il patrio municipio auspice il cav giuseppe borselli sindaco coll'opera di antonio giordani ingegnere comunale l'anno mdccclxvii
English translation: these pure and healthy waters from the spring near the rhine drawn here the town hall homeland hopes the mayor Giuseppe Borselli with the work of antonio giordani municipal engineer the year mdccclxvii [AWS Translate]
Via Cremonino, Cento, Italy
In 2008 Nuttall Park Stone and Plaque installed, designed by Ramsbottom Heritage Society and the stone provided by Marshall’s Quarry. "Replica Plaque 2008. Lt. Col. Porritt (1875-1956) of The Cliffs and Stubbins Vale Mill was a leading public figure and local benefactor. He believed people had a right to enjoy recreational facilities and open spaces." On 12th July 2008 Andrew Todd, President of the Heritage Society, said a few works of thanks to all and the stone was unveiled by Cllr Peter Ashworth, Mayor of Bury. This was followed by the opening of 'Nuttall Extravaganza', an afternoon of celebration to mark 80 years of the park.
Nuttall Park, Ramsbottom, United Kingdom
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Texas Historical Marker #04548
San Marcos Primitive Baptist Church. The San Marcos Primitive Baptist Church, so named because of its proximity to the San Marcos River, was organized in 1853 at the home of George Daniels, who also served as the congregation's first pastor. The five charter members of the church were William Baker, Vashti Baker, Hannah Daniels, I. D. Owen, and Sylvanna Daniels. George Daniels served as pastor until 1862, when James Milton Baker (1831-1910) began his 48-year service as minister of the San Marcos church. A native of Alabama, Baker was the son of charter members William and Vashti Baker. The family had come from Alabama to Texas in 1852 and had settled in this area during the following year. The first church building and early records of the church were destroyed in a flash flood that probably occurred in 1869 or 1870, but the congregation continued to meet. In 1886, J. M. Baker deeded land at this site for the church and cemetery. In 1930 the San Marcos Primitive Baptist Church moved to Luling (3 mi. E) but continued to meet here occasionally until 1970. This historic site serves as reminder of the heritage of the Luling congregation. (1985) #4548
?, Luling, TX, United States
Mal Evans 1935-1976 Road Manager to The Beatles lived here
28 Hillside Road, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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Amelia Edwards 1831-1892 Egyptologist and Writer lived here
19 Wharton Street, Islington, WC1X , London, United Kingdom
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This plaque is erected in honour of General Sam Houston of Texas (1793-1863) whose ancestor John Houston and his family emigrated around 1730 from the Ballyboley area. The family settled at Timber Ridge, Virginia, where, with many others from these shors, they formed one of the Ulster-Scot communities which dotted the Great Valley of the Shenandoah. Sam Houston was the great-great-grandson of John Houston and the son of Samuel Houston and Elizabeth Paxton. His father was a soldier during the Revolutionary War and Sam Houston served under General Andrew Jackson, later to be the seventh US President, during the War of 1812. He was also during his lifetime Governor of Tennessee. In March 1836, after the defenders of the Alamo, including those of Ulster stock, laid down their lives, General Sam Houston raised the fallen standard of Texas and led Americans to victory on the field of San Jacinto, Texan independence being secured there on April 21st, 1836. The city of Houston is named in honour Of one whose roots lay in these hills, The man the Cherokee called The Raven.
Ballyboley forest, Ballynure, United Kingdom
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Golden Fleece. This Georgian Inn was one of the principal coaching houses on the York to Edinburgh road in the early 1800s with stabling for 50 horses.
Golden Fleece Hotel, Market Place, Thirsk, United Kingdom
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Kentucky Historical Marker #2043
Eminence College Site. Chartered as a high school by Kentucky Legislature in 1856. The school had as trustees Dr. D. Porter, S.T. Drane, Morris Thomas, Preston Thomas, James Drane, W.B. Wilson, and W.J. Mason. In 1861, the name Eminence College conferred on it. Men and women were equally represented at one of state's first coeducational boarding schools. Presented by City of Eminence and Henry County Fiscal Court. (Reverse) Rev. W.S. Giltner (1827-1921) - President of Eminence College from 1858-1893, W.S. Giltner trained at Bethany College, W. Va. He and his wife, Lizzie Rains Giltner, led the college, creating a commercial dept. (1880) and normal school for training teachers (1886). Reverend Giltner also preached at Eminence Christian Church. Enrollment peaked around 200; college closed in 1895.
1/4 mi. S. of Eminence, KY 55 North, Eminence, KY, United States
Born at Worth and later living in Three Bridges Dame Caroline Haslett (1895-1957) Electrical Engineer became in 1924 the first director of the Electrical Association for Women
Haslett Avenue East, Three Bridges, Crawley, United Kingdom
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Opposite this site stood St. Margaret, Fish Street Hill destroyed in the Great Fire 1666
Monument Street, EC3, London, United Kingdom