Anglophile in Exile: Explore History by Following the Blue Plaques

London is a history lover’s playground. Besides all the major locations like Buckingham Palace or Westminster Abbey, almost every neighborhood and block has been witness to famous people and events.

If you look closely, you’ll see on many houses a round blue plaque. These blue plaques are historical markers noting a famous person’s residence or a famous event. Personally, I love walking down the street, noticing a blue plaque and realizing I know about that person or event. For me it is goosebump moment!

Why the blue plaques? And who exactly decides what locations get honored?

The first blue plaques weren’t blue.  Started in 1866 by the Royal Society of the Arts, the plaques were a variety of shapes and were mostly a chocolate brown, which probably made it quite difficult to read from the street.  The first plaque was for Lord Byron, dedicated in 1867. Out of the 35 plaques installed by the society, less than half of them survive, the earliest of which commemorates Napoleon III from 1867.

Thankfully when the London County Council took over the program (or scheme as they call it) in 1901, they decided it would be an added bonus if people could read the signs, so they settled on a lovely blue. The final design with white lettering and white border was made official in 1938. To date, it hasn’t been changed.

Today the program is run by English Heritage. Under their leadership, more than 300 more plaques have been placed in London since 1986.

So then, how does an individual or site get their very own plaque?

In order for an individual be eligible,  they must have been dead for twenty years or have passed the centenary of their birth.  Additionally, according to English Heritage, “Nominated figures must be considered eminent by a majority of members of their own profession; have made an outstanding contribution to human welfare or happiness; have resided in a locality for a significant period, in time or importance, within their life and work; be recognisable to the well-informed passer-by, or deserve national recognition.”

Only one fictional personal has a blue plaque. And that would be the detective himself, Sherlock Holmes. When you visit 221B Baker Street, look up and you’ll see his plaque. Sometimes I do wonder if Holmes was a fictional character!

It is important to note that plaques can only be placed on the actual building inhabited by the individual, not the site where the building once stood. Plus a single person may not be commemorated with more than two plaques nationwide. For example, John Lennon has two plaques – one on his childhood home in Liverpool and a second in London on the former building of Apple Boutique 94 Baker Street.

Today there are nearly 800 plaques throughout London. English Heritage has put the entire listing online, so next time you visit London, you can look for your favorite plaque.

This scheme is also spreading across the country thanks to a pilot program. From 1998-2005 plaques were erected in Liverpool & Merseyside, Birmingham, Portsmouth and Southampton. I hope this program continues for it is a great way to learn about national and local history.

And now a bit of trivia for you:

Stephen Fry is on the Blue Plaques Panel, the group who goes through nominations and decides on who or what gets recognition. (I swear I’m going to keep trying to fit Stephen in all of my posts!)