The Evolution of London’s Blue Plaques

Whenever I stop to think about it, blue plaques are truly amazing. Although they began in London, now anyone who looks up all over the UK is treated to a clue about extraordinary contributions from former residents. Blue Plaque at 16 Eaton Place, Belgravia – Image by Spudgun77 CC BY 2.0 Short and snappy, they’re a springboard for the curious to go and do more digging once their interest is piqued. But whose idea was it? Along the stuccoed terraces of Belgravia, at 16 Eaton Place you can find a small blue plaque for William Ewart (1798-1869). Blue Plaque at 16 Eaton Place, Belgravia – Image by Spudgun77 CC BY 2.0 A politician and reformer, what this plaque doesn’t tell you is that the idea for blue plaques came from him! I doubt that when William stood up in the House of Commons on 17 July 1863 anyone predicted the legacy his words would have. Might it be practical, William posed, “to have inscribed on those houses in London which been inhabited by celebrated persons, the names of such…