Documenting the historical links between people and places as recorded by commemorative plaques
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Plaque Of The Day
myf says, "He influenced British comedy for decades after his death"
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
Thomas Somerscales marine artist lived here 1910 - 1920
127, Park Avenue, Hull, United Kingdom
Subjects
Texas Historical Marker #01057
Cora. Founded 1854, as Troy. Later renamed in honor of a Miss Beeman of Bell County. In 1856 organization of Comanche County--then extending farther south and east than today's boundaries--Cora became county seat. A log cabin residence in Cora was the first Comanche County courthouse, serving until the county seat was relocated in 1859 in new town of Comanche. That first courthouse and all the other buildings are gone from site of Old Cora. Only a cemetery--the oldest in Comanche County--remains. Thus Cora is an example of the many early, important towns no longer existent in Texas. In the 254 counties of Texas, there have been 126 cases of redesignation of county seats. (Two counties have had five county seats each.) Boundary changes (as in Comanche County), shifts in travel routes (as when railroads were built), changes from agrarian to industrial economy have caused counties to move their county seats to new locations. Old courthouses have found later usefulness as ranch headquarters, municipal buildings, or private homes. The first log cabin courthouse of Comanche County reverted to use as a residence, but later was restored and used--as are many former courthouses--as part of a museum. (1967) #1057
?, Gustine, TX, United States
The Black Gate. Principal Gateway to the Castle built 1247-50. Upper two storeys built in seventeenth century. Restored, notably by R.J. Johnson 1883-84.
Black Gate, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
Texas Historical Marker #10115
Schwarz Building. This limestone commercial building was constructed in 1907 by Charles Schwarz, a prominent early merchant of the area, and his wife Mary. Located on the site of the Louis Dietz home, it included ground floor space for Schwarz' General Merchandise and Dry Goods store and second floor living quarters for his family. The building later housed a variety of businesses and also provided meeting space for local youth groups and a veterans' organization. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1981 #10115
216 W. Main St., Fredericksburg, TX, United States
Priscilla Wakefield 1751-1832 Quaker author and founder of the penny savings bank lived near here
Ship Inn Yard near High Cross United Reform Church, 310 High Road, Tottenham, London, United Kingdom
Subjects
Sam Lockhart Born 1850 Died 1933 Home of the famous elephant trainer and his three elephants Wilhelmina, Haddie and Trilby Known as The Three Graces
Wilhelmina Close, Warwick New Road, Royal Leamington Spa, United Kingdom
Subjects
Ralph Vaughan Williams 1872-1958 composer lived here from 1953 until his death
10 Hanover Terrace, Regent's Park, Westminster, NW1, London, United Kingdom
Subjects
Bourse de Commerce. Après la destruction de l'hôtel de Soissons, la municipalité fit édifier à son emplacement un bâtiment à usage d'entrepôt et de magasin de vente des blés et des farines. De forme circulaire, construit par Le Camus de Mézières entre 1763 et 1766, cet édifice fut coiffé en 1782-1783 par une coupole en bois couvrant la cour, conçue par Legrand et Molinos, assemblée par le charpentier Roubo, et percée de 25 fenêtres et d'une baie à son sommet. Elle brûla le 16 octobre 1802, et fut remplacée en 1811 par une coupole en fer. Victime d'un nouvel incendie en 1854, la halle au blé a été remplacée par l'actuelle Bourse de commerce, construite par Blondel entre 1887 et 1899.
English translation: Trade Exchange. After the destruction of the Hotel de Soissons, the municipality built a building at its site for the use of warehouses and stores for the sale of wheat and flour. Circular in shape, built by Le Camus de Mézières between 1763 and 1766, this building was capped in 1782-1783 by a wooden dome covering the courtyard, designed by Legrand and Molinos, assembled by the carpenter Roubo, and pierced by 25 windows and a bay at its top. It burned on 16 Oct. 1802 and was replaced in 1811 by an iron dome. After a new fire in 1854, the wheat hall was replaced by the present trading stock, built by Blondel between 1887 and 1899. [AWS Translate]
2 rue de Viarmes, Paris, France
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Texas Historical Marker #02737
Texas Governor James V. Allred. From this courthouse, James V. Allred began his career that led to highest state office. As lawyer with firm of O'Neal and Martin, he won elections as district attorney in 1923 and Attorney General of Texas, 1931. Governor from 1935 to 1939, he corrected many social and economic ills, ushering in era of better government for state. In his last years, he was a federal judge. He is remembered for his crusading liberalism and his personal integrity. He married Joe Betsy Miller. They had three sons. (1970) #2737
7th & Lamar, Wichita Falls, TX, United States
Market House built c1660 on the site of the ancient Booth Hall
, Ross-on-Wye, United Kingdom
Subjects
John Marston JP 1836-1918 mayor 1889-1891 alderman 1891 freeman 1909 founder of the Sunbeam Company and his son Sir Charles Marston K St J, JP, FSA 1867-1946 industrialist and author lived here
The Oaks, Merridale Road, Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
Subjects
This hospital was erected and largely provided by John Cowane Deane of Gild for the entertainment of decayed Gild breithr. [brethren] 1639
Back Walk, Stirling, United Kingdom
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