Documenting the historical links between people and places as recorded by commemorative plaques
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Plaque Of The Day
Jez says, "During the Civil War, Robert Greville, 2nd Baron Brooke commanded Parliament forces in Warwickshire and Staffordshire. Many consider Greville to be the first victim of sniper fire."
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
Hier wohnte Emil Maximilian Dingler geb. 1806 gest. 1874. Herausgeber der ersten technischen Zeitschrift in Deutschland. Seinem Andenken gewidmet von den technischen Vereinen Augsburg & München. A.D. 1888
English translation:
Peutingerstraße 25, Augsburg, Germany
Subjects
Centenary Of Cinema 1996 #252
Cecil Hepworth (1874-1953) Pioneer British film producer. This building formed part of his original studio 1899-1924
Playhouse Theatre, Walton on Thames, United Kingdom
Herzog Alexis Richtschacht Teufe 225 Meter In Betrieb 1830-1903 und 1953-1955 Förderschacht des Grubenreviers Meiseberg, durchschlägig zum Grubenrevier Pfaffenberg. Der alte Fördeschacht war das Lichtloch Nr. 7. In diesem Revier befanden sich noch der Friederikenschacht (140m Teufe), der Kunstradschacht (30m Teufe) und das Stollenlichtloch Nr. 8 (145m Teufe). Am Meuseberg befand sich ein Bleibergwerk. Am 6. März 1608 wurden durch enen Bergmeister und dem Bergmann Kaiser aus Stolberg der Haspel auf dem Berg zerhauen. (Der Muter Hauptmann v. Peschwitz hatte von dem anhaltinischen Fürsten die Erlaubnis zum Abteufen, während "Stolberg" der Meinung war, ihnen stünde es zu, hier Bergrechte zu verleihen.) 1538 wurden Privilegien erteilt, 1481 am Meuseberg auf Flußspat gebaut. 1956 wurde in dem Schacht eine Pumpe installiert und damit die Trinkwasserversorgung von Neudorf bis 1993 gewährleistet.
English translation: Duke Alexis Richshaft Deeps 225 metres In operation 1830-1903 and 1953-1955 Conveyor shaft of the Meiseberg mine mine mine, penetrating to the Pfaffenberg mine mine area. The old fördeschacht was the no. 7. In this area were still the Friederikenschacht (140m depth), the artificial wheel shaft (30m depth) and the tunnel hole No. 8 (145m depth). There was a lead mine on the Meuseberg. On 6 March 1608, the reel was cut off on the mountain by his mountaineers and the miner Kaiser from Stolberg. (The mother, Captain of Peschwitz, was given permission by the Anhaltine prince to steam, while “Stolberg” believed that they were entitled to grant mountain rights here.) Privileges were granted in 1538, built on the Meuseberg in 1481 on the Meuseberg. In 1956, a pump was installed in the shaft, and thus the drinking water supply of Neudorf until 1993. [AWS Translate]
Neudorf, Harzgerode, Germany
The renowned theologian and scientist Joseph Priestley, who discovered the element oxygen, studied here from 1752-5. The building, formerly the Doddridge Academy, was refurbished as part of a general development of 36 flats undertaken by Bedfordshire Pilgrims Housing Association and Daventry District Council. This commemorative plaque was unveiled by Cllr. Chris Over, Chairman of the Housing Committee on 6 June 1995.
Sheaf Street, Daventry, United Kingdom
From 1921 to 1937 here lived and in his adjoining studio worked Philip A. De Laszlo M.V.O. Portrait Painter. President of the R.B.A. Born 1869, died 1937
3 Fitzjohn’s Avenue, Hampstead, NW3, London, United Kingdom
Subjects
James Clerk Maxwell Natural Philosopher Born here 13 June 1831
14 India Street, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Subjects
Scottish Central Library. This building was erected in 1699 by Thomas Fisher, First Chamberlain of Edinburgh, and after restoration and internal reconstitution by the Carnegie United Kingdom trust, was opened as the Scottish Central Library by H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh, on 5th November 1953.
National Library of Scotland, 312-320 Lawnmarket, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Subjects
Thames Tunnel Mill - This is the a listed mid 19th century former mill building and warehouse. It is one of the earliest warehouse residential conversions in Docklands.
Rotherhithe Street, London, United Kingdom
Subjects
Nevada Historical Marker #259
The Governor’s Mansion. Reno architect George A. Ferris designed this neoclassical mansion, which cost $22,700. It is the only home ever built for Nevada’s highest elected official. In July 1909, acting Governor Denver Dickerson and his wife Una became the first residents of the mansion. Two months later, June Dickerson was born here. From 1909 to 1999, sixteen families have occupied the mansion. In 2000, first lady Dema Guinn began a revitalization of the grounds. Private funds supported many of the improvements, including this fence extension donated by Steel Engineers, Inc., Las Vegas and Blue Mountain Steel, Inc., Carson City
, Carson City, NV, United States
The Cromwell statue which now stands on the South side of the Academy was originally erected on this frontage. It was given to the town in 1899 to mark the tercentenary of Cromwell's birth. The donor was Frederick Monks a Warrington leading industrialist and pioneer of worker co-operation.
The Academy, 138 Bridge Street, Warrington, United Kingdom
William Gascoyne 1827 - 1902 Stonemason, builder, local politician Lived here
12 Willes Road, Royal Leamington Spa, United Kingdom
Subjects
John Ericsson worked an Sweden, England and the U.S. Swedish inventor who constructed for instance the propeller and the warship "Monitor" used in the American Civil war
Kungsportsavenyen, Gothenburg, Sweden
