Blue plaque change will allow England’s ‘hidden heroes’ to be recognised
Major changes to the national and London blue plaque schemes will allow more “hidden heroes” to be celebrated.
Until now buildings that had been substantially altered or replaced since a prospective honoree was linked to them had been ruled out of receiving a plaque.
However, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said this rule restricted recognition for “many brilliant people or groups throughout history”.
The change will remove this barrier and open the scheme to a wider range of people and places, which the DCMS said would “help ensure more of Britain’s diverse history is represented”.
It has been expanded to people connected to lost music and performance venues, ex-residents of demolished homes, and workers and innovators connected to former factories and workshops.
Nominations are now open to the public.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: “Throughout our history, it has been ordinary, extraordinary people who have built our country and created lasting change.
“From millworkers who fought for fair wages, safe working conditions and the rights of women, to the Windrush generation who helped shape our NHS, transport, manufacturing industries and more – too often their contributions have been airbrushed from our national story.
“Until now, it was difficult to commemorate their achievements with a blue plaque. These rules were outdated, unfair and do not reflect who we are as a nation.”
She added: “That’s why we have changed the rules so that we can properly commemorate the heroes who shaped our communities and changed our country for the better.
“I hope people across the country will come forward and nominate the people whose contributions are a vital part of our national story and deserve to be told and remembered.”
Launched in 2023 and run by Historic England on behalf of DCMS, the National Blue Plaque Scheme builds on the success of the London scheme and local versions across the country.
This year, £100,000 has been given to Historic England to support the programme and provide grants for community groups and grassroots organisations researching and developing nominations that address historic underrepresentation and improve geographical reach.
The national and London schemes will adopt the updated criteria from the next round of blue plaque nominations.
Historian Professor David Olusoga said: “English history has been shaped by women as well as men, by the poor as well as the wealthy, and by people across England and not just those who lived in London.
“These welcome changes will liberate Historic England and English Heritage to celebrate the stories of England’s hidden heroes with their beloved blue plaques.”
Historic England’s head of participation programmes, Ellie Djerir, said every community had people whose stories “deserved to be remembered” but did not have the buildings connected to them still standing.
“By widening the criteria of the National Blue Plaque Scheme, we can now celebrate more of the people who have shaped our history, wherever they lived and worked,” she said.
English Heritage’s conservation curatorial and learning director, Matt Thompson, said the changes would “offer greater flexibility to recognise a wider range of individuals whose achievements deserve to be celebrated”.
To be honoured with a blue plaque, a person or group must have significantly contributed to human welfare or happiness and/or made an exceptional contribution to their field.
Sites for the plaques should have a strong connection to a person who must have been dead for at least 20 years, or to a group which was formed at least 20 years ago and is no longer functioning.
Recent people honoured by the National Blue Plaque Scheme include actor and director Sir Laurence Olivier, Beatles guitarist George Harrison, Hollywood actor Cary Grant and Reverend Wilbert Awdry, creator of Thomas the Tank Engine.
Applications are open for both schemes until January 13, and plaques from these nominations will be unveiled next year.
Published: by Radio NewsHub