What Are The Blue Plaques On Buildings In London?
The Blue Plaques seen on many buildings in London are one of the ways that London celebrates and remembers individuals who lived or worked in London and who made a significant contribution to society.
These blue plaques are usually placed on the front facades of buildings near to the entrance doors and are visible from the street.
The blue plaques celebrate people from all over the world, and from diverse backgrounds and occupations.
The blue plaque scheme was proposed by the Society of Arts (now the Royal Society of Arts) in London in 1866.
The organization suggested the idea of placing commemorative plaques on buildings where notable figures had lived or worked as a way to celebrate and remember their contributions to society.
The first plaque was erected in 1867, at the birthplace of Lord Byron in Holles Street, Cavendish Square.
In 1901, the London County Council took over responsibility for the plaques, and the plaques have since been managed by a variety of organizations, including English Heritage who currently run the scheme.
English Heritage is a non-profit organization in the UK responsible for preserving and promoting the country’s historic landmarks and cultural heritage.
They manage over 400 historic properties and monuments, including Stonehenge, Hadrian’s Wall, and Dover Castle.
The organization also conducts research and provides education programs to educate the public about the country’s rich history.
English Heritage is funded by the UK government and through donations and membership fees.
How Are The Blue Plaques Awarded?
The process of deciding where blue plaques are placed involves a number of steps.
First, anyone can nominate a person for consideration.
The nominee must have been dead for at least 20 years and have made a significant contribution to society in one of the following fields: arts, sciences, politics, or sport. The reason they must have been dead for at least twenty years is so that their legacy can be properly assessed after a passage of time.
The nomination is then reviewed by an independent panel, which includes experts in the relevant field, before being approved or rejected.
How Are Blue Plaques Made?
The plaque itself is made using traditional methods. The design of the plaque has remained largely unchanged since the program began, with a circular blue background and white lettering. Some of the older plaques reflect the fact that they were installed by the London County Council rather than English Heritage.
The lettering is raised and made of vitreous enamel, which is then fired in a kiln to create a hard, durable surface.
Who Has Blue Plaques Dedicated To Them?
With over 900 blue plaques in London there are a diverse range of people who have blue plaques dedicated to them.
These include;
Virginia Woolf
Charles Dickens
Mahatma Gandhi
Freddie Mercury
Florence Nightingale
Isaac Newton
Jimi Hendrix
Sylvia Pankhurst
George Orwell
Emmeline Pankhurst
How Can You Find Blue Plaques?
One of the easiest ways to find blue plaques in London is to download the Blue Plaque App.
The app was developed by English Heritage that provides users with information about the blue plaques located throughout London.
The app includes a map with the location of each plaque, including the closest ones to your current location and detailed information about the individuals they commemorate.
Users can also search for plaques by location or the name of the person concerned.
There are even suggested walks so that you can see a few plaques on one journey.
The app is available for free on both iOS and Android devices.
Not surprisingly Westminster in Central London is the borough with the most blue plaques (over 200).
This reflects the areas historical importance.
The plaques here include Winston Churchill, Oscar Wilde and Florence Nightingale.
Another interesting aside about blue plaques is that they have been found to increase the value of the house where the plaque is compared with similar neighbouring addresses.
This study from the University of Leeds found that ‘relative prices increased by 27% after a Blue Plaque was installed but not in a control set of properties without Blue Plaques, sold before and after a Blue Plaque was installed in close proximity’.
Keeping your eye out for the blue plaques is an ideal way to bring London’s history to life.
Using either the app or a guide book will help you discover the plaques easier but the joy is often in discovering plaques in lesser known locations as you travel around the city.
Next time you are in London keep an eye out for the Blue Plaques as you walk around.
You really will be walking in the footsteps of the rich and famous!
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