Documenting the historical links between people and places as recorded by commemorative plaques
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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
Près d'ici sur la place d'armes du fort Jacques Archambault (1604-1688) ancêtre unique des Archambault d'Amérique creusa en 1658 le premier puits de l'île de Montréal à la demande de M. de Maisonneuve
English translation: Near here on the parade ground of the fort Jacques Archambault (1604-1688) ancestor of Archambault of America in 1658 dug the first well of the island of Montreal at the request of M. de Maisonneuve
Puits, Place de la Grande-Paix, Montreal, QC, Canada
Subjects
In diesem Haus wohnte von 1933 bis zu seiner Emigration 1939 Otto Blumenthal. Seit 1905 wirkte er als Professor für Mathematik an der RWTH Aachen. Trotz seines Engagements für die Hochschule wurde er 1933 aus rassischen und politischen Gründen entlassen. 1938 beendete ein Arbeitsverbot auch seine anderen wissenschaftlichen Tätigkeiten. Er emigrierte 1939 in die Niederlande, wurde dort nach der deutschen Besatzung 1940 interniert und starb 1944 im Konzentrationslager Theresienstadt.
English translation:
Limburger Str. 22, Aachen, Germany
Subjects
St. George's Hospital was established on this site in 1733 in a country home built in 1719 by James Lane, 2nd Viscount Lanesborough. In 1826 the trustees of St George's commissioned William Wilkins to design a new hospital. Wilkins was also the architect for the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square and University College. This building was completed in the early 1830s. The hospital outgrew the site and moved to new buildings in Tooting, southwest London, in 1980. This historic building has now been carefully restored during an extensive four year project (1988-1991) and transformed into a magnificent hotel which takes the name of the former Lanesborough House on this site. The main entrance to the Lanesborough is to be found on the Knighstbridge side of Hyde Park Corner facing Hyde Park.
Hyde Park Corner, London, United Kingdom
Subjects
The Old Courthouse A Church Courthouse in the Middle Ages, this building served in the 18th century as the Gaol for the Liberty of Ripon, and in the 19th century as a Debtors Prison.
Old Courthouse, Ripon, United Kingdom
ამ სახლში 1937-1968 წლებში ცხოვრობდა საქართველოს დამსახურებული მეცნიერი და გამოჩენილი საზოგადო მოღვაწე, პროფესორი ბიძინა იაკობაშვილი
English translation: In 1937-1968, Honored Scientist and Outstanding Public Figure of Georgia, Professor Bidzina Iakobashvili lived in this house [AWS Translate]
2/4 Luarsab Sharashidze Street, Tbilisi, Georgia
The Yorkshire Philosophical Society transferred the Yorkshire Museum and Gardens to the citizens of York on January 2nd 1961
Yorkshire Museum, York, United Kingdom
Rimosse e trasportate in rocca le lapidi dei caduti nelle guerre della indipendenza, riaperta l'arcata verso il duomo, demolito il dorso di mattoni sovrastante ai sedili, scoperti e risarciti i conci. Questa parete ha riavuto l'aspetto primitivo coll'ornamento d'antiche memorie
English translation: Removed and transported to rock the gravestones of the fallen in the wars of independence, reopened the arch toward the cathedral, demolished the brick back above the seats, uncovered and compensated keystones. This wall has regained its original appearance coll'ornamento of old memories
Palazzo della Ragione - Piazza Vecchia , Bergamo, Italy
This tablet marks the site of Harrison's Assembly Rooms where Richard (Beau) Nash presided as Master of ceremonies 1708-1761 Here also stood 1823-1933 The Royal Literary and Scientific Institution inaugerated by the poets Moore, Crabbe, and Bowles: now transferred to Queen Square
Pierrepont Street on the wall above Parade Gardens, Bath, United Kingdom
Subjects
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Hier wohnte Natalie Hirschfeld Jg. 1875 deportiert 31.3.1942 Ghetto Warschau ermordet
English translation: Here lived Natalie Hirschfeld Jg. 1875 deported 31.3.1942 Ghetto Warsaw murdered [AWS Translate]
Anderter Straße 22, Hanover, Germany
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Louis Braille inventeur de l'écriture pour les aveugles 1809 - 1852
English translation: Louis Braille inventor of writing for the blind 1809 - 1852 [AWS Translate]
97 Boulevard des Belges, Lyon, France
Texas Historical Marker #02610
I. M. Terrell High School. In 1882, the Fort Worth school system opened its first free public school for black students, called "East Ninth Street Colored School." It was moved to the corner of East Twelfth Street and Steadman in a property trade with the Fort Worth and Denver Railroad in 1906, and renamed "North Side Colored School No. 11." Isaiah Milligan Terrell was named principal and served until 1915. A 1909 bond election provided funds for a new building, which opened in May 1910. In honor of its former principal, the school was named "I.M. Terrell High School" in 1921. The school at twelfth and Steadman became a Junior High and Elementary in 1938, when Terrell High School was moved to its present location at 1411 E. 18th Street, site of a former white elementary school. Isaiah Milligan Terrell was born in Grimes County in 1859. Named one of the first four black teachers in Fort Worth in 1882, he served as principal and supervisor of black schools. He was married in 1883 to Marcelite Landry, a respected music teacher. Terrell became President of Prairie View State Normal and Industrial College (now Prairie View A&M University) in 1915, and later became an active leader in Houston's black community. He died in 1931. #2610
1411 E. 18th Street, Fort Worth, TX, United States
James Lougheed (later Sir James) came to Calgary as a young lawyer in 1885 and later became leader of the Opposition in the Canadian Senate. He built a frame home for his family on this site. In the 1890's, after moving his family to a larger home, he built this sandstone building, the Norman Block and others on land he had purchased on Stephen Avenue. Although gutted by fire on four occasions, it was rebuilt each time to original specifications. During its lifetime the building housed such diverse businesses as a clothing store (operated by Tommy Burns, the only Canadian to win the world heavyweight boxing championship) and the Lyric (later Pantages) theatre. The theatre was managed by Ernest Willis, an Australian actor who, for many years, had appeared on British and European stages. It exhibited some of the first motion pictures seen in Calgary. This plaque was unveiled by Premier Lougheed, grandson of the original owner, and nephew of the man for whom it was named, one of Sir James Lougheed's sons.
8 Avenue Southwest, Calgary, AB, Canada