Documenting the historical links between people and places as recorded by commemorative plaques
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Plaque Of The Day
Jez says, "Not all plaques are for world famous people, but if someone has gone to the effort and cost of erecting a plaque then that is good enough for us. I hope that i'm not maligning 'Spider' by imagining that his 'hours of leisure' were mostly of the tramp-like variety."
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
Hester Thrale (Mrs Piozzi) Dr. Johnson's friend b. 1741 died here 2nd May 1821
20 Sion Hill, Bristol, United Kingdom
Subjects
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CANADA'S FIRST ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH PREMIER TÉLÉGRAPHE ÉLECTRIQUE CANADIEN 19 December 1846 marked the inauguration of the telegraph in Canada. This major development in communications was pioneered by the Toronto, Hamilton and Niagara Electro-Magnetic Telegraph Company whose line then being built between Toronto and Queenston carried the first message, from the mayor of Toronto to his Hamilton counterpart. To most Canadians the early telegraph was an expensive novelty but both the press and business soon adapted it to their use. In 1852 the successful but limited Toronto, Hamilton and Niagara enterprise was bought by the larger Montreal Telegraph Company. Le 19 décembre 1846 le télégraphe fut inauguré au Canada. La Toronto, Hamilton and Niagara Electro-Magnetic Telegraph Company, instigatrice de cette importante évolution des communications, transmit le premier message, du maire de Toronto à son homologue d'Hamilton, par la ligne en construction entre Toronto et Queenston. Pour la plupart des Canadiens, le premier télégraphe était une nouveauté coûteuse, mais la presse et le commerce ne tardèrent pas à l'adopter. En 1852, la Toronto, Hamilton and Niagara, passa à la Montreal Telegraph Company.
English translation:
corner of Front and Jarvis Streets, Toronto, ON, Canada
A D. Francesco Sangiorgi arciprete di Fontana Moneta di anni 69 morto li 13 Febbraio 1885 Il nipote Serafino Sangiorgi dolentissimo Q. M. P.
English translation: To D. Francesco Sangiorgi archpriest of Fontana Moneta aged 69 died 13 February 1885 His nephew Serafino Sangiorgi dolentissimo Q. M. P.
Via Fontana Moneta 7, Brisighella, Italy
Subjects
Nevada Historical Marker #270
The Morelli House. The Morelli House is a classic example of Las Vegas mid-century residential architecture. It was built in 1959 by the Sands Hotel orchestra leader Antonio Morelli and his wife Helen. Originally located at 52 Country Club Lane in the former Desert Inn Country Club Estates, now the Wynn resort, the modernistic house then featured an open plan that integrated interior and exterior spaces, natural materials, and the latest innovative home appliances. In 2001, the Junior League of Las Vegas relocated the Morelli House to its present site and completed restoration in 2009.Listed 2001, Nevada State Register of Historic PlacesListed 2007, City of Las Vegas Historic Property RegisterThis historic preservation project was funded, in part, by the Nevada Commission for Cultural Affairs and through generous donations from the Las Vegas community and members of the Junior League.
E Bridger Ave, Las Vegas, NV, United States
Built 1816 St Philip's Church Erected by John Cragg from designs by Thomas Rickman Closed 1882
15 Hardman Street, Liverpool, United Kingdom
In Memoriam Arthur Blackwell Goulburn Lillingston Residentiary Canon of this Cathedral 1914-1942 Sub-Dean 1927-1942 and Canon Emeritus 1942-1943. Born 12 Nov. 1864 Died 20 Apr. 1943
Durham Cathedral Cloisters, Durham, United Kingdom
Subjects
The Knysna Library Built at a cost of £1250 on land purchased from William Lloyd for £65, this stone building replaced an earlier public reading room of timber construction which stood on the corner of Main (previously called Church) and Long Streets, built in 1858 during the tenure of the of the first magistrate Mr James Fichat. Mayor C W Thesen opened the present library building, with its west wing only, which was built by Cooper and Rogers of Oudtshoorn with rooflag erected by local carpenter, Andrew Hepburn of The Knysna Forest Company, on 28 November 1893. The east wing was added in 1936 using matching stone, most of which had been quarried in 1893 and stored for the purpose.
St. George's Road, Knysna, South Africa
The Battle of the Hieton was fought on the banks of this stream between the Covenanters under Colonel Ker and the English under General Lambert in 1650
Cadzow Bridge, Cadzow Street, ML3 6HP, Hamilton, United Kingdom
Subjects
Hier wirkte Rabbiner Jacob Apt Jg. 1869 deportiert 1942 Theresienstadt ermordet in Minsk
English translation: Here worked Rabbi Jacob Apt Jg. 1869 deported 1942 Terezín murdered in Minsk [AWS Translate]
Hofstraße, Pattensen, Germany
The Platform Tavern dates back to 1873 and is of historical interest as it is built against the old town wall built around 1350. The wall can be seen in the bar the stonework exposed to show its original state. The town wall was washed by high tides until the Eastern Quay was built around 1830. The house name is derived from its proximity to the Quay outside God's House called The Platform which contained a gun battery for ceremonial purposes.
The Platform Tavern, Town Quay, Southampton, United Kingdom
Subjects
Maison Fond. Leandro Erlich (Buenos Aires, 1973) est un artiste argentin. Installée sur le parvis de la Gard du Nord, Maison fond a été inaugurée dans le cadre de Nuit Blanche, en partenariat avec Gares & Connexions, le 3 octobre 2015. L'architecture est depuis tout temps un symbole fort de la culture humaine, elle nous rappelle qui nous sommes et souvent ce que nous avons perdu. Comme une grande partie de l'oeuvre de Leandro Erlich, cette oeuvre résonne dans notre inconscient, au travers d'un langage visuel onirique, et pointe du doigt un sujet de préoccupation urgent et actuel. L'artiste a choisi le titre pour sa correspondance phonétique avec "Mes enfants", qui vivront le futur que nous décidons aujourd'hui. A la fois frappante accessible, cette installation touche à la réalité humaine universelle de l'impermanence et aux dilemmes urgents et précis auxquels nous sommes confrontés. Cette installation accompagne - en marge de la Conférence cadre des Nations unies sur les changements climatiques - la réflexion liée à ces enjeux.
English translation: Maison Fond. Leandro Erlich (Buenos Aires, 1973) is an Argentine artist. Located on the parvis de la Gard du Nord, Maison fond was inaugurated as part of Nuit Blanche, in partnership with Gares & Connexions, on October 3, 2015. Architecture has always been a strong symbol of human culture, reminding us who we are and often what we have lost. Like much of Leandro Erlich's work, this work resonates in our unconscious, through dreamlike visual language, and points to an urgent and current concern. The artist chose the title for his phonetic correspondence with “My Children”, which will live the future that we decide today. At the same time striking and accessible, this installation touches on the universal human reality of impermanence and the urgent and precise dilemmas we face. This facility supports - on the margins of the UN Framework Conference on Climate Change - the reflection on these issues. [AWS Translate]
Gare du Nord, Paris, France