Documenting the historical links between people and places as recorded by commemorative plaques
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Plaque Of The Day
Jez says, "The creation of this plaque caused questions over commemorating people who are still alive. The English Heritage rules are quite strict to prevent the 'cult of now', but should other groups follow suit?"
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
The Football Association was formed on the proposal of Ebenezer Cobb Morley at the Freemasons' Tavern, which stood on this site. The modern game of football was born on this day. 26 October 1863
Great Queen Street, London, United Kingdom
Subjects
The Ripponden Co-operative Society Founded in 1832 to provide wholesome food at wholesale prices and mutual protection against poverty. The Society's first store was in this cottage
, Ripponden, United Kingdom
City of Salford Heritage Site #11
Eccles Library (Grade II) Built 1907. Andrew Carnegie, philanthropist donated the construction cost of £7,500
28 Barton Lane, Eccles, United Kingdom
Subjects
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Leyton Library. Grade II Listed building. Designed by John Knight in an Italianate style and opened in 1882 as Leyton Town Hall. Outgrown by 1892 and replaced by the new Town Hall alongside. Later adapted to serve as a public Library
Leyton Library, High Road E10, London, United Kingdom
Subjects
Circa 1864 44 Rawson Street This Victorian cottage was the home of John Benn, first of a long line of Benn family members who served as pilots, prior to his moving to the Pilot‘s house at the Knysna Heads on his appointment as coxswain and pilot in 1868. This house stands on land originally part of “The Admiralty erven” ceded by George Rex to the British Navy, who it turn exchanged it with the Colonial Government for land and a jetty in Simon’s Town, from whom John Benn bought the land in 1864. John Benn served his apprenticeship as a shipwright in the Royal Navy and arrived in Knysna in 1855 to salvage the wrecked schooner Musquash. He built the brig Rover and the schooner Annie Benn in Knysna.
44 Rawson Street, Knysna, South Africa
Западнее поселка Коссубен (Ильинское) в бою 20 октября 1944 года пал смертью героя заместитель командира гвардейского танкового корпуса Герой Советского Союза полковник Степан Кузьмич Нестеров. Установлен 18 декабря 1996 года в связи с 90-летием со дня рождения Героя.
English translation: The west of Kossuben (Ilyinskoye) in battle on October 20, 1944, the deputy commander of the Guards Tank Corps Hero of the Soviet Union, Colonel Stepan Kuzmich Nesterov, fell the hero's death. Set on December 18, 1996 to mark Hero's 90th birthday. [AWS Translate]
на здании почты, Нестеровский городской округ, п. Ильинское, Russia
The Santa Clara Interlocking Control Tower Built in 1926 and used around the clock until July 17, 1993 the Santa Clara Interlocking Control Tower is one of two Harriman Standard No.4 towers in California. The General Railway Signal Co. Model 2 Unit Lever Type Interlocking Machine on the upper floor operated the many switches and signals that controlled railway traffic from the Peninsula Line 'From San Francisco' and the Mulford Line 'From Oakland' The out buildings, the tool shed and the speeder shed, were used to store track inspectors car and tools. After 65 years of continuous service, control of the line was transferred to the computer at the San Jose Depot. It was the end of an era. For the benefit of our community and our heritage, the SBHRS, City of Santa Clara and Mt. Charlie Chapter 1850 of E. Clampus Vitus hereby dedicates this plaque. Right wrongs nobody This plaque was to be dedicated in 1999, but after many delays, the monument was built and dedicated on May 25, 2013.
1005 Railroad Avenue, Santa Clara, United States
THE PHOENIX by GEORGE WAGSTAFFE 1962 This sculpture which symbolises the rebuilding of Coventry was unveiled May 1962 by H.R.H Princess Margaret. Re-cast in bronze 1983, and unveiled June 1984 by the Right Worshipful the Lord Mayor of Coventry, Councillor W.S. Brandish JP re-sited her in 1987
Hertford Street, Coventry, United Kingdom
Geburtshaus des Physikers Christian Doppler Entdecker des nach ihm benannten astrophysischen Prinzips Geb 29. November 1803 - gest 17. März 1853 Zu seinem hundertsten Geburtsfeste die Gesellschaft für Salzburger Landeskunde
House opposite Landestheater between Markardplatz and Schwarzstraße, Salzburg, Austria
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