Documenting the historical links between people and places as recorded by commemorative plaques
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Plaque Of The Day
Jez says, "well, it's definitely a niche role..."
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 Angel Hotel This harbourside hotel is a long-standing local landmark. In 1893, it was described as an 'old established commercial inn'. In 1823, 'the Angel' was 'a posting and commercial house', run by William Yeoman. The Royal Mail coach to York left Yeoman's inn every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. The mail coach had operated from 'the Angel', since its inception, in 1795. The Union coach (to Sutherland) and the Diligence (to Scarborough) also operated from 'the Angel'. These premises were refurbished by J.D. Wetherspoon in March 2013.
New Quay Road, Whitby, United Kingdom
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Western Defences. The western line of defences was established in the reign of King Charles II (166?-????) after the Jacobite Rising when these defences were almost breached. The line was rebuilt by General Wade.
, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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The Royal Oak. The beer house initially stood on the opposite side of the road but was demolished in 1903 during slum clearance and reoped in 1904. City of Salford Eccles History Trail
Corporation Street, Eccles, United Kingdom
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The Cricket Green Opposite this clubhouse is the Cricket or Lower Green, part of the common or grazing land of medieval times which largely escaped enclosure in the 18th and 19th centuries. Cricket has been played there for at least 250 years. Lord Nelson was once a spectator.
Mitcham Cricket Club, Cricket Green CR4 4LA, London, United Kingdom
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Dans cette maison vécut de sa dernière sortie de prison: 1878 jusqu'a sa mort: 1er janvier 1881 le grand révolutionnaire Auguste Blanqui. 40 ans de prison n'ont jamais fait plier sa fidelité à la classe ouvrière. Son exemple et ses leçons ont animé les héros de 1848 et de la Commune.
English translation: In this house lived from his last release from prison: 1878 until his death: 1 January 1881 the great revolutionary Auguste Blanqui. 40 years of imprisonment never made his fidelity fold to the working class. His example and lessons animated the heroes of 1848 and the Commune. [AWS Translate]
25 Boulevard Auguste Blanqui, Paris, France
Patrick Waddington 1901-1987 Merchant Adventurer Pilot and Actor This building was restored with his legacy.
Rear of 39 Fossgate, York, United Kingdom
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Max Rothschild [full inscription unknown]
English translation: Max Rothschild
Stromstr. 52, Mitte, Berlin, Germany
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The Albion Hotel. Built about 1810 originally as a house for a Captain Greenwood, mariner and ship owner. On his death in 1854 control passed to his son-in-law Richard Bush, who turned the house into Bush's Albion Hotel as shipping declined. Under various owners it has remained a hotel ever since.
The Promenade, Arnside, United Kingdom
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Leadenhall Market, The meat and fish Market first occupied a series of courts, behind the grand lead-roofed city mansion of Nevill House on Leadenhall Street, in the 14th Century. As early as 1321 it was an established meeting place of the Poulterers whilst the Cheesemongers brought their produce to the Market from 1397. THe Corporation of London acquired the freehold of the property in 1411 and the spacious market continued to be used for the sale of fish, meat, poultry and corn. In 1666 parts of the Market were damaged by the Great Fire and were subsequently rebuilt. The exisiting wronght iron and glass roof buildings were designed by the City Architect Horace Jones, and built by the Corporation in 1881. DUring the early 19th Century one of the most celebrated characters int he Market was Old Tom, a gander from Ostend was came to England by chance, due to his fascination which one of the lady members of his flock. It is recorded that over two consecutive days 34,000 geese were slaughters in the Market - but Old Tom managed to escape execution. He became a great favourity in the Market and was a regular customer at the local Inns where he was fed titbits. He died in 1835 at the formidable age of 38 and was buried in the Market.
Leadenhall Market, London, United Kingdom
This college for the widows of Clergymen who have ministered in the dioceses of Winchester and Worcester founded Bishop Morley A.D. 1672 was rebuilt A.D. 1880
Morley College - grounds of Winchester Cathedral, Winchester, United Kingdom
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Ann Oldfield 1683-1730 Actress first occupant of this house 1725-1730
60 Grosvenor Street, Mayfair, Westminster, London, United Kingdom
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Author of over 70 horror, crime and popular works of fiction Richard Marsh (1857-1915) lived here 1891-1910
New Street, Three Bridges, Crawley, United Kingdom