Commemorative Plaques Scheme

In 2009 the Marchmont Association established its own independent commemorative plaques scheme, with a view to raising awareness of the area's rich and varied social history. Our first plaque was unveiled at 57 Marchmont Street on 11th October 2009, to honour Kenneth Williams - Comic Actor and star of 26 'Carry On' films (sponsored by The Heritage Foundation).

This was followed on 30th November 2009 by plaques to two accomplished early nineteenth century artists - William Henry (Bird's Nest) Hunt and John Skinner Prout - who lived at 41 and 43 Marchmont Street, respectively. They were unveiled in a combined ceremony by Rupert Maas of the BBC's Antiques Roadshow and the Australian Cultural Attaché, Vivien Allimonos, respectively. On 19th December 2009, Ann Wroe, the acclaimed author of "Being Shelley" (photo link below), unveiled a plaque to two of our most significant former residents - Percy Bysshe Shelley - Poet and Radical Thinker - and Mary Shelley - author of 'Frankenstein' - who lived in a house on the site of 87 Marchmont Street.

On 27th April 2011, Griff Rhys Jones unveiled a plaque at 60 Marchmont Street to (George) Emlyn Williams - the iconic Welshman, Actor and Playwright, who is credited with giving Sir Richard Burton his first break in films (sponsored by One Housing Group). On 1st June 2011 a plaque was unveiled at 65 Marchmont Street to Sir William Empson - Poet and Literary Critic, by his sons Jake and Mogador, in the presence of three generations of the Empson family, writers, academics and literary critics (substantially funded by Miki Fukayama of Tokyo, Japan and Prof. John Haffenden, Empson's acclaimed biographer). On 18th November 2011, a plaque was unveiled to Sir John (Giovanni Battista) Barbirolli C.H. - World renowned Cellist and Classical Music Conductor - by the only surviving Barbirolli, Cecilie (photo opposite). This is our only plaque to be installed on a plinth, because English Heritage objected to it being fixed to the front of the Grade II listed The Brunswick (substantially funded by Dame Janet Smith and Skoob Books).

Our most recent plaque, which was unveiled by Prof. Bill Bowring on 30th November 2012 to commemorate Vladimir Ilyich Lenin's stay at 36 Tavistock Place, triggered a 'heated debate' in the Letters pages of the Camden New Journal. We have approved seven more plaques, subject to raising the required funds. They include plaques to a certain Dr Alphonse Rene Le Mire de Normandy, inventor of indelible ink, 'hard' soap and distilled water, who lived at 91 Judd Street; William Reeve, prolific 18th century composer for Covent Garden and Sadler's Wells Theatres, among others, who lived at 56 Marchmont Street; Alexander Herzen's Free Russian Press, which operated from 61 Judd Street; Boulton & Park, who lodged at 13 Wakefield Street in the 1860s and 70s; J.M. Barrie - creator of Peter Pan - who lived at 8 Grenville Street; Jerome K. Jerome, who lived in Tavistock Place; and a replacement plaque for Charles Fort, founder of Forteanism, the study of anomalous phenomena, who lived at 39 Marchmont Street. All unveiling events will be announced on this web site.

We are indebted to our talented plaque maker, Ned Heywood and his assistant, Julia, for manufacturing and installing such high quality plaques and to our generous donors who have helped to fund the cost of each plaque. We are also grateful to the generous single donor who funded the full cost of making and installing the Lenin plaque. If you would like to make a donation or sponsor one of our plaques, or you have suggestions for further plaques, please contact us via the link in any of the 'Get Involved' boxes on this web site. Our collection of plaque images may be viewed on Flickr.com via the link below.

Additional Info:  

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/discover/blue-plaques/
http://www.marchmontassociation.org.uk/photos/shelleys-plaque-cnj.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/macollections/sets/72157626090719808/

Created On 14 December 2010