Documenting the historical links between people and places as recorded by commemorative plaques
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Plaque Of The Day
Simon says, "This plaque in Soho's Greek Street is designed and coloured like Wedgwood ceramics; a favourite of my Mother's when growing up."
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
_Simcha_Behar.jpg?width=250)
Simcha Behar [full inscription unknown]
English translation: Simcha Behar
Köpenicker Straße 112, Mitte, Berlin, Germany
Subjects
Texas Historical Marker #07094
Old Ellis County Jail. Due to overcrowding in the existing jail facility, this structure was completed in 1888. The Ellis County Commissioners Court awarded the contract to Pauly Jail Building and Manufacturing Company of St. Louis, Missouri. A round turret with conical roof dominates the design. Decorative brick corbeling runs below the cornice. The two-story brick and stone jail contained the Sheriff's family residence on the first floor. There were twenty 4' X 8' cells which accommodated two prisoners each. The solitary confinement and death cells were in the basement. A rotary system, one of the few in the United States, was installed to prevent escapes. A cylinder contained a group of ten cells. The outer walls were stationary jail bars with only one opening. The cylinder turned to provide access to the single door. The entire jail yard was enclosed by a fence of iron bars. Bloodhounds were kept in the yard in the early days. After a new county jail was constructed in 1929, this facility housed the relief work commission during the depression. Afterward a variety of commercial enterprises occupied the space. #7094
?, Waxahachie, TX, United States
Elizabeth Fry 1780 - 1845 Founded an Association for improving the conditions of Female Prisoners in Newgate 1817 and her efforts resulted in a complete change of prison management in this and other Countries. Born at Gurney House in the adjacent Court
Gurney House, Norwich, United Kingdom
Subjects
This is the last of three Victorian urinals which were in the village. It was removed from Station Road in 1998. Its present location, known as Waterfall Park, was given to the village in May 1955 by Robert Alcock
Waterfall Park, Great Ayton, United Kingdom
Ashleigh & India Houses 1848 Houses for professors of the East India Company's Military Seminary
137–139 Addiscombe Road, Addiscombe, London, United Kingdom
Hôtel de Rohan. Frère jumeau de l’hôtel de Soubise, il a été construit de 1705 à 1708 par Delamair pour le premier des quatre cardinaux de Rohan à l’avoir habité. Sa décoration extérieure est plus modeste que celle de son voisin, et sa façade principale ouvre sur leur jardin commun. A la veille de la Révolution, le dernier des cardinaux de Rohan, dupé par deux aventuriers dans l’affaire du collier de la Reine, fut relégué dans son abbaye de la Chaise-Dieu. La cour des Ecuries s’orne d’un chef d’oeuvre de Robert le Lorrain : les chevaux d’Apollon. La décoration intérieure a beaucoup souffert, mais conserve le salon des signes, peint par Huet de 1749 à 1752 : malgré le caractère profane de ces “chinoiseries”, la pièce servait d’oratoire aux évêques de Strasbourg. Occupé par l’Imprimerie nationale de 1801 à 1925, l’hôtel est attribué aux Archives nationales en 1928.
English translation: Hotel de Rohan. A twin brother of the Hotel de Soubise, it was built from 1705 to 1708 by Delamair for the first of Rohan's four cardinals to have inhabited it. Its exterior decoration is more modest than that of its neighbour, and its main façade opens onto their common garden. On the eve of the Revolution, the last of Rohan's cardinals, duped by two adventurers in the case of the Queen's necklace, was relegated to his abbey of the Chaise-Dieu. The court of the Ecuries is adorned with a masterpiece by Robert the Lorrain: the horses of Apollo. The interior decoration suffered greatly, but still retains the sign salon, painted by Huet from 1749 to 1752: despite the secular character of these “chinoiseries”, the room served as an oratory for the bishops of Strasbourg. Occupying the National Printing House from 1801 to 1925, the hotel was awarded to the National Archives in 1928. [AWS Translate]
87 rue Vieille du Temple, Paris, France
Texas Historical Marker #08467
Oakwood Cemetery. This cemetery existed as early as 1846. For three graves were placed here that year. Pleasant Gray, Huntsville's founder, deeded in 1847 a 1,600-square foot plot at this site. The original tract has been greatly enlarged by other donations from local citizens. Numerous graves bear the death date 1867, when a yellow-fever epidemic swept the county. Among the many famous persons buried here are General Sam Houston; Henderson King Yoakum, author of the first comprehensive history of Texas; state congressmen; and pioneer families. #8467
?, Huntsville, TX, United States
Subjects
_Denny_Neufeld.jpg?width=250)
Denny Neufeld [full inscription unknown]
English translation: Denny Neufeld
Mollstr. 11-12, Mitte, Berlin, Germany
Subjects
Harold Wilson 1916-1995 four times Prime Minister. First Head Boy at this school 1934
Wirral Grammar School for Boys, Cross Lane, Birkenhead, United Kingdom
Subjects
Orange Street Congregational Church This church was founded in 1693 by Huguenot refugees who fled from France at the time of the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes. In 1776 the Chapel passed into the hands of the Church of England. The Rev. Augustus III. Toplady author of "Rock of Ages" was one of its ministers. The Chapel passed into the hands of the Congregationalists in 1787. Adjoining the chapel was Sir Isaac Newtons house which was built in 1710 and condemned in 1913. Mrs Jemima Luke, author of the beloved hymn "I think when we read that sweet story of old" was a teacher in the Sunday School. A copy of the hymn in her own handwriting is in possession of the church.
Orange Street, London, United Kingdom
Subjects
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Texas Historical Marker #04173
Rambie-Lewis Family Cemetery. This family cemetery, consisting of three graves, is a physical reminder of the hardships faced by 19th century pioneer families. Aaron Rambie, a Pennsylvania native who came to Texas about 1848, married a neighbor, Ginsey Ann Lewis, In 1854. When Ginsey died in 1862 at the age of twenty-seven, she was buried here on land owned by her father, Levi Lewis, Jr. Lewis's son, warren, died in June 1863 at the age of one year and was also buried here. Aaron and Gensey's eight-year-old daughter, Mary Abigail, died in July 18633 and was buried next to her mother. (1991) #4173
?, Somerset, TX, United States
Ici, au 21 rue La Boétie, Paul Rosenberg installa sa galerie d'art entre 1910 et 1940. Il y exposa les plus grands peintres modernes dont ses amis Picasso, Braque, Matisse et Léger. L'immeuble fut réquisitionné par la Gestapo pour y installer l'Institut des Questions Juives (IEQJ) en 1941.
English translation: Here, at 21 Rue La Boétie, Paul Rosenberg set up his art gallery between 1910 and 1940. He exhibited the greatest modern painters including his friends Picasso, Braque, Matisse and Léger. The building was requisitioned by the Gestapo to install the Institut des Questions Juives (IEQJ) in 1941. [AWS Translate]
21 rue La Boétie, Paris, France