Finding All Of The Blue Plaques In York For Notable People
9th April 2025 - New Experience Number 8.
Finding all of the blue plaques in York gave me an opportunity to see the city in a way I’d never experienced it before.
A walking challenge that brought incredible characters from history to life, it made me notice things I’d regularly seen but rarely paid attention to.
Whilst we often think we know where we live reasonably well, it turns out there’s always something new to explore.
Having never actively observed the blue plaques before, this was a mini-adventure that definitely counted as one of my 52 new things.
Inspirational Books
I’d recently read a beautifully written book called ‘On Looking’ by Alexandra Hotowitz. In it, she walked around a city she thought she knew well, but discovered it anew by walking with eleven different people who each experienced the urbanscape differently.
By paying attention, and noticing, she saw regular routes from a fresh perspective. It made me realise how we often see, without really seeing, and that what we may think of as ordinary, is often remarkable.
Another book which had been an inspiration for my challenge, was ‘Local’ by Alastair Humphreys. He’d spent a year exploring a single map which covered just 20 kilometres around his home.
Again, this was a wonderful reminder that there is so much to discover on our doorstep. If we just take the time to notice, we can find astonishing things.
Both of these had spurred me on to try and think of some way of seeing a place I know well, differently.
The Beginning Of An Idea - Finding All Of The Blue Plaques In York
My knowledge of blue plaques was limited. I’d spotted them when I’d been been out and about, and I’d seen them in the press whenever they got some coverage. Yet I’d never really paid that much attention to them.
I like a walking challenge, having previously hiked the length of the river Foss, and walked every street within the York City Walls. I began to wonder if finding all of the blue plaques where I live could be achievable in one day.
Knowing so little about these commemorative signs, I started with some research. It turns out that from start to end, this challenge gave me an opportunity to fully embrace my inner nerd, and I loved it!
What Is A Blue Plaque?
Firstly, what are these blue plaques I’m talking about?
You can find them across the UK, and it’s likely you’ve been past one at some point. You know the ones? Usually blue with white writing about someone famous who used to live there.
They’re often circular, (but not always), usually blue, (again, not always), and are inscribed with a name and dates. There’s also a brief description that links the named person with the building or place where the plaque is positioned.
History Of Blue Plaques
Doing my research, I was surprised to find there isn’t a sole organisation responsible for these signages of significance.
Back in the 1860s, it was politician William Ewart who came up with the idea. He suggested installing historical markers to commemorate the lives of notable people or events, with links to a specific location.
This was the very first scheme of its kind, and was run by the Society of Arts when it first began. Over the years it was administered by a few different bodies and organisations, until English Heritage took responsibility in 1986.
Primarily covering Greater London, there was a brief period during 1998 and 2005 which saw a trial period of expansion across England, where an additional 34 plaques were displayed.
Who Oversees Blue Plaques?
The Levelling-up and Regeneration Act of 2023 seems to have extended the English Heritage blue plaque scheme across the whole of England.
The Blue Plaque Trust have taken responsibility for a number of the signs. In 2017 they unveiled almost 50 plaques recognising legends from the world of music for BBC Music day. However, the website doesn’t look as though it has been updated in quite a while.
Due to the popularity of the blue plaques in London, other similar schemes have emerged across the rest of the UK. The Royal Society of Chemistry and The Music Guild Hall have their own blue plaque schemes, and The National Transport Trust has a red plaque scheme.
Many local authorities or civic societies look after them around the rest of the UK. If you search online for blue plaques where you live, you should find who looks after them near you. In York where I live, it’s the York Civic Trust who have taken responsibility.
Sometimes, people take matters into their own hands, and create their own plaque to commemorate a significant person or occasion. A brilliant Knaresborough hairdresser put up a plaque to mark a visit from the actor Danny Dyer.
Open Plaques is another site listing blue plaques. This community based project catalogues commemorative plaques from around the world! They list who the plaque is for and why, and where it can actually be found.
As there isn’t just one organisation who oversees all of the plaques, it does make it slightly more difficult to know exactly where to find them. However, it also makes it a rich, varied and fun way to explore a place, as you never know who or what you might discover.
York Civic Trust - Finding All Of The Blue Plaques In York
York Civic Trust don’t call them blue plaques, but that’s what I’d called my challenge before I’d started my research, so I’m sticking with it.
Instead, they refer to them as commemorative plaques. They’ve been placing them around the city of York since 1940, celebrating notable people and places who have shaped York over the centuries.
Their official plaques are easy to identify as they always carry the blue, red and gold emblem of the Civic Trust.
The website is brilliant as it has four self guided walking trails centred around the plaques, each covering no more than a mile.You can follow these to discover more about the literary history of the city, artists who made their mark, scientific achievements, and some of the characters who did more radical things to change the shape of life today. They’re perfect for a snapshot of history if you don’t have a lot of time.
Planning A Route
The York Civic Trust website also had a map of all of the plaques, which was perfect for my mini-challenge!
Clicking onto the webpage, over 100 pins were dotted across the city map. Seeing them all made me concerned about by my proposed antics. I wanted to try and find them all in one day, and with some of the pins being a bit further out of the city centre, it was looking a bit too ambitious.
As if they knew what my plan was, the plaques had helpfully been split into two categories; people, and places. The map of pins marking notable people was definitely achievable. Using a favourite site, plot a route, I set about working out where I’d start and where I would walk in order to see all of the people plaques.
With a route now in mind, I was ready, and looking forward to discovering the characters I’d virtually meet along the way. There are many famous people connected to York who I already knew about. I was intrigued to find out about some of the lesser known but equally noteworthy people who have a connection to the place I call home.
Finding All Of The Blue Plaques In York
22km later, I’d done something I’d never done before, and found all but 3 of the 46 blue plaques that I was aware of. From artists to musicians, botanists to chocolatiers, campaigners, writers, astrologers and railwaymen, these were notable people connected to the city.
Out of the plaques that I did find, 25 were the blue, round signs which I had envisaged when I initially thought about the challenge. So I still feel ok about referring to it as finding all of the blue plaques. I also saw a brown sign, and several square signs along the way too.
I’m sharing just some of the people I found who stood out to me. I discovered more about them when I got home. You can see the full list of people plaques on the York Civic Trust website.
A Sweet History
The grand exterior of the old Terry’s factory remains just as impressive today. Although it’s now a restaurant and bar rather than a chocolate factory, you can find the blue plaque for Joseph Terry just inside the entrance. We’ve got him to thank for one of the most Terry-fic chocolates, (sorry, I couldn’t resist!), the delicious chocolate orange.
A second Joseph made it big in the world of chocolate in York, and the plaque for the man behind Rowntrees confectionery hangs outside what is now a Pizza Hut. Not only did Joseph Rowntree bring us delicious sweet treats, he was a social reformer and philanthropist. His influence is still felt across the city today.
Another previous sweet factory was marked by the blue plaque for Mary Ann Craven who was particularly known for producing French Almonds. She was a determined and driven and made things happen at a time when it was rare for women to be in business. Now a Cafe Nero, it’s often slightly different sweet treats that are enjoyed with a coffee.
A Medical Pioneer - Finding All Of The Blue Plaques In York
Finding the plaque for John Snow in North Street Gardens, I couldn’t help but think of Game of Thrones. This turned out to be a completely different man and not the King of The North.
John Snow had been born in York in 1813 and gone on to do great work in the medical world. He had created equipment to make using anaesthetic easier, and he challenged the belief that cholera was an airborne disease.
During an outbreak of cholera he analysed the data about the deaths from the disease. The findings showed that many of the deceased had lived near a pump which they used for drinking water. He also identified two areas with a much lower incidence of sickness, and saw that the residents used a different water source.
The outbreak subsided when he convinced the authorities to remove the handle from the pump. Such a simple solution, but it meant that people had to collect their water from elsewhere. Later investigations showed the water supply had been seriously contaminated, and proved the disease hadn’t been transmitted through the air.
Although his suggestions were initially dismissed, it was his perseverance and interest in the how and why of the disease occurring that helped to set the foundations for modern epidemiology. It just took the courage of John to question and challenge what other experts believed, to make the difference.
Green Fingered Residents
Some of the notable people I found on my walk were recognised for their contribution to horticulture.
A blue plaque to George Russell credited him for developing Russell Hybrid Lupins. My gardening knowledge is pretty much non-existent, so I looked him up. In 1911, he saw the lupins one of his employers had picked and wasn’t impressed. George thought that he could produce a better version of the plant.
Dedicating time and patience to his quest, he set about a rigorous selection and perfection process. After several years, he’d started to develop new colours of lupins with larger flower bells which hid the spike of the stem.
He received many awards for his contribution to horticulture, and the Russel Lupin can now be found in many different parts of the world.
Film And Television - Finding All Of The Blue Plaques In York
Three plaques in particular were familiar to me from the worlds of film and television.
Outside his childhood home, now a hotel, a blue plaque commemorated John Barry. Composing the music for over 90 films, he’s probably most famous for scoring the iconic Bond themes. He even got to work with my favourite band of all time, A-ha, on the Living Daylights theme in 1987. Although I’ve heard that it wasn’t the most harmonious collaboration.
On a dead-end terrace street near the river, one of the red brick houses proudly displayed the blue plaque on what used to be the childhood home of comedian Frankie Howerd. Born in 1917, he apparently he fell down the stairs there when he was little, which gave him a lifelong fear of heights.
Whilst not from the world of film or television herself, her story has been depicted on the screen. Anne Lister has a rainbow plaque at Holy Trinity Church, marking the pivotal moment where the diarist sealed her union with Ann Walker in 1834. A trailblazing thing to do in the Victorian age when society had very rigid conventions around love.
A Beastly Tale
One of the things I love about York is that even though it’s a very busy city, you can always find a little corner of quiet amongst nature. Next to the river Ouse, and just off one of the busy roads, is the leafy green space of Museum Gardens, and we’ve got Henry Baines to thank for it.
His plaque recognises him as an inspiring botanist and Creator of the Museum Gardens. He undoubtedly influenced the gardening world in many ways, obtaining and nurturing many plants for the botanical gardens, and writing the book ‘Flora of Yorkshire’.
However it was a slightly different story which really caught my eye when I looked him up. Juliet Burton had done some fantastic in-depth research into Henry and his family for the Heritage Hunters Magazine. She uncovered the story from 1831, in which Henry shared a stagecoach from York to London, with a bear!
Apparently a few animals were kept in Museum Gardens in the multangular tower. Alongside an eagle and some monkeys was the bear, which had escaped on a few occasions! When the menagerie was closed, London Zoological Gardens agreed to take the bear, and this was probably the only method of transportation!
Artists - Finding All Of The Blue Plaques In York
George Walker Milburn was a woodcarver, stonemason and sculptor. He created many of the impressive statues and carvings in York, and much further afield. A blue plaque denotes where he used to work in his stoneyard by the city walls in the 1880s. Although that has long since gone and is now a public toilet.
Mary Ellen Best documented every-day life through her watercolour paintings in the 1800s. I looked up her work when I got home and they are beautifully detailed and intricate pictures. She painted several scenes of events in York, captured outfits and decor from the time, and created pictures of the interiors of her own home, often including herself in the image.
A Mind Blowing Discovery
One plaque in particular blew my mind and that was for John Goodricke. I’d heard the name before as there’s a college named after him at York university, but I had no idea who he was. Born in 1764, he only lived to be 21 but this deaf astronomer did something quite remarkable.
Gazing out and up at the night sky just a stone’s throw from the mighty York Minster, back in the days when street lights didn’t interfere with our view, Goodricke observed a variable star. It’s these initial observations from Treasurer’s House that formed the foundations for us to be able to measure the universe today.
In just a short life, back in a time where we didn’t have technology to help us, he made it possible for the modern measurement of the universe, and I find that pretty phenomenal.
The Plaques I Know I Missed
The plaque for Frank Pick was in a school grounds and didn’t seem all that easy to access. I asked a friendly gardener about it and he didn’t seem too sure either so I left that one.
Another had been removed. I’d noticed the blue plaque for Joseph Hansom on the building along Micklegate a few years previously. Now that I was actively seeking to find it, I discovered it had gone. The bar had closed down and the signage had been removed, which included the blue plaque.
A quick look on line brought up a recent newspaper article suggesting this plaque had been placed incorrectly. Joseph’s plaque should in fact be slightly further down the street at the corner of St Martin’s Lane. I checked as I walked past, but there was no sign of it.
Hunting high and low outside City Screen cinema, I checked the paving stones and looked up at the walls, as the map indicated a plaque was there. I even went into the building to see if any staff were aware of this commemorative marker. Despite best efforts, I couldn’t find the elusive signage for William Etty.
A Local Adventure - Finding All Of The Blue Plaques In York
Whilst the word adventure may conjure up feelings of adrenaline and daring, I’d class this as a local mini-adventure. It had helped me to pay attention and notice places I regularly walk past without a second glance, and I’d really enjoyed it.
I noticed some signs I’d not seen before. An old painted sign under a window, and the York conservation trust emblem – maybe that’s a route for another day!
Having walked roughly the distance of a half marathon, it had felt like a good challenge. I’d discovered some interesting people who had connections to the city and an influence on the world.
Who Can Have A Blue Plaque?
Finding out about these significant people who’ve shaped life today in some way, made me start to wonder whether I could ever have a blue plaque.
With so many different organisations being responsible for blue plaques, there isn’t one set of criteria as to who can have one. That said, the York Civic Trust have a similar set of conditions as the English Heritage.
Both stipulate that;
- The person must have a significant connection to the place, and a link to a building or place that exists today.
- They need to have done something in their field which is recognised on a wider scale.
- There needs to have been at least 20 years since their death – that explains why the wonderful Dame Judy Dench doesn’t have a plaque. However, Damon Albarn unveiled his own plaque himself, so I guess it depends on the organisation who is providing them.
Some enterprising people still find ways around commemorating notable people even if they are not part of an official organisation. The Guy Fawkes Inn have created their own blue plaque to recognise they are the birth place of Guy Fawkes.
Try Finding The Blue Plaques Near You
Whoever has a commemorative plaque, and whichever organisation put it up, they are a great way to find out about the people from a place and uncover some often surprising stories.
- It’s a different way to explore somewhere you might think you know fairly well.
- If you’re interested in history, this is a brilliant way to find out about some local connections.
- Looking for a bit of a challenge? Perhaps you can try and find some in a certain area in one day?
- How far will you walk?
- How many will you find?
- Who will you find where you live?
- Perhaps you know of someone else who deserves a blue plaque?
I know this mini-challenge won’t appeal to everyone, but if you’re open to being curious, you might be surprised at what you find.
Want To Try It Yourself?
- I can highly recommend trying to find the blue plaques where you are. If you’re interested in finding out about some fascinating residents, you’ve got an interest in history, and you want to explore where you live in a different way, it’s a good challenge.
- Have a look online to see if there is an overarching organisation that looks after the blue plaques near you. They should have some sort of list of them all.
Cost Of Experience
- Finding all of the blue plaques in York was Free!
- I took a packed lunch with me. You might decide to buy refreshments along the way which will of course have some cost to them.
Recommendations
- Plan. Consider a route in advance so you don’t end up having to double back on yourself. I used Plot A Route to help with my planning.
- Tell someone. Let someone know what you’re up to, just so you’ve got someone keeping an eye out for you if you need any help.
- Layer up. The Great British weather can be notoriously inconsistent. Check the forecast before you go.
- Don’t forget your camera. Getting some pictures of the plaques means you can look up the people later and uncover more of what made them significant.
- Have fun! I’d love to know about some of the lesser-known people who’ve shaped where you live, so please do let me know who you find.
What a brilliant idea! I bet it was a really interesting thing to do as well. Definitely one for me to try in summer round where I live.
Thanks Graham! I really enjoyed it, and I got very geeky looking up the people I’d discovered when I got home. I loved finding out about people I’d not heard of before. Hope you find some interesting people!
Happy Easter,
Sally :o)