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In England, a blue plaque is a sign attached to a house where someone famous once lived (or sometimes where a notable event took place) to commemorate that fact. These are often blue-glazed earthenware or resin discs, 19 inches (48 cm) in diameter, with a white border and white text, placed on the exterior of buildings or other places. Not all of them are actually blue. They mark the building's historic link rather than celebrating the person.
English Heritage's scheme
Under the main scheme, run by English Heritage, nominations are taken from the public for people that have been dead for at least 20 years or were born 100 years ago, whichever is earlier. The criteria for deserving a plaque were set in 1954 and include eminence; having made an "important positive contribution"; "exceptional and outstanding personalities"; and deserving of national recognition. If a person meets these criteria, a plaque may be placed on a building to which they have a link. There is only one plaque for any individual.
London scheme
The official blue plaque scheme in London was set up in 1867, celebrating Byron's Holles Street residence. Initially the scheme was run by the Royal Society of Arts; it was transferred to the London County Council in 1901 and later the GLC. When the Greater London Council was disbanded in 1985, following the Local Government Act of 1985, English Heritage took on the role. English Heritage places about 20 new plaques each year. The scheme extended to other parts of the UK in 1998, with the first plaques being unveiled in Liverpool in 2000. Other cities involved are Birmingham, Portsmouth and Southampton. The scheme has been adapted and used worldwide. The Royal Society of Arts placed 13 plaques, the London County Council 249 and the GLC 262; there are now more than 800. Many of the buildings which had plaques have been subsequently demolished. The oldest surviving plaque is in Gerrard Street and dates from 1875. The early plaques were dark brown, the current design dates from 1937, with the white border added in 1939. A few of these plaques are made of vitreous enamel.
Other schemes
Several similar schemes operate (a few with different coloured plaques), often run by Civic Societies, district or town councils, or local history groups, and generally with different criteria. Westminster City Council runs a 'Green Plaque' scheme which is sponsored by groups campaigning for memorials. See External links below. The Dead Comics' Society installs blue plaques to commemorate notable comedians' places of residence, including Sid James and John Le Mesurier.
Trivia
- Plaques for George Frideric Handel and Jimi Hendrix stand side by side on 25 and 23 Brook Street, Mayfair London, W1.
- Despite being a fictional character, Sherlock Holmes has a plaque on the supposed site of 221B Baker Street, London, W1.
- William Wymark Jacobs author, had two blue plaques unveiled to him on the same day in 1998 in London and Loughton.
- Willie Rushton has his blue plaque in Mornington Crescent Station due to the game played on the UK comedy radio show, I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue
External links
- Blue plaque section of English Heritage's site - includes a list of London plaques organised alphabetically by person
- London blue plaque scheme - allows searching by address
- List of blue plaque schemes in other areas
- The Bourne Society — Croydon area
- Loughton Town Council * Blue Heritage Plaque Scheme Loughton, Essex
- Blue Plaques of Muslim London (current and proposed plaques for London Muslims)
- HandHeldHistory; WAP guide to London's plaques
- London blue plaques (more links)
- Ulster History Circle
- Blue plaque section of 0lll architecture gallery - Mashup of GoogleMaps and flickr photo album consisting of London buildings with blue plaques.
- A list of Blue Heritage Plaques in Kingston upon Hull
- The Birmingham Civic Society - Blue Plaques
"Blue plaque"