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Date: 15/02/2018
City of Manchester
COMMEMORATIVE
PLAQUES
A list of locations and inscriptions of plaques to commemorate people, places and events that are part of Manchester’s historic past
Manchester City Council, Planning Department, P.O. Box 463, Manchester M60 3NY
MANCHESTER COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUES
The suggestion that buildings in Manchester, associated with famous people, should be suitably marked by the City Council was first put forward by the late Alderman Clement Stott. After consultation with historical and architectural interests, the City Council in 1960 adopted the suggestion, but financial restraints at that time made it impracticable to make other than an experimental start.
By 1970, however, largely due to the enthusiasm of the late Alderman Sir Richard Harper - a keen local historian - the programme was effectively commenced.
Since then the Council has sponsored a programme of commemorative plaques and this booklet records those now fixed.
The scheme originally proposed that only buildings where famous people had lived would be marked. Experience soon showed that the continuing redevelopment of the City has swept away many of the old buildings associated with notable people or events.
A minor variation of the scheme was therefore introduced to mark historic sites. Some of these, now radically changed in appearance, are of great interest in the City's history; examples include "Peterloo" (No.6 - Free Trade Hall) and Bonnie Prince Charlie's gun park (No.23 - Artillery Street, Deansgate).
There are no rigid or formal rules for the selection of plaques but the general principles followed are that the person commemorated should have been eminent and sufficiently famous for his or her name to be familiar to a succeeding generation. No commemoration is generally undertaken until 25 years after death.
A great deal of work goes into researching the facts and ensuring sitings are accurate. In this work the Local History Library gives invaluable help. Owing to the severe restriction of local government budgets the responsibility for this and for the costs in manufacturing and installing plaques now rests with those making the request.
All commemorative plaques up to 1984 were in blue ceramic encaustic ware. The manufacturer ceased production and subsequent plaques are cast aluminium. In 1985 colour coding was introduced: Blue to commemorate people: Red to commemorate events of importance to the social history of the City: Black indicates buildings of special architectural or historic interest: Green is for subjects which fall into none of the above categories.
Here they are, memoria to the famous men and women, writers, artists, musicians, soldiers, and others who have made our history. It is hoped that this booklet and the plaques themselves will excite the interest of the public, especially the young, to know more about the persons and events the plaques commemorate.
COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUES IN MANCHESTER
No.
|
Name and Location
|
Colour
|
Inscription
|
Installed
|
1
|
Richard Cobden
County Court
Quay Street
|
Blue
|
Richard Cobden MP a pioneer of free trade lived here (1834 - 1843). Owens College (later Manchester University) occupied the building (1851 - 1873).
|
1960
|
2
|
York Hotel
National Westminster Bank
King Street
|
Blue
|
The site of the York Hotel where Manchester Borough Council held its first meetings (1838 - 1840).
|
1972
|
3
|
William Harrison Ainsworth
National Westminster Bank
King Street
|
Blue
|
Wm. Harrison Ainsworth (1805 - 1883). Novelist born in a house, which stood on this site.
|
1972
|
4
|
Gaiety Theatre
Peter Street
|
Blue
|
The site of the Gaiety Theatre directed by Miss A.E.F. Horniman (1908 - 1921)
|
1972
|
5
|
Salford Hundred Court
Crown Square
|
Blue
|
The Court of Record for the Hundred of Salford in the County of Lancaster (1869 - 1971) held its sittings in these Courts of Justice (1962 - 1971).
|
1972
|
6
|
Peterloo
Free Trade Hall
Peter Street
Replaced with a red plaque, number 116 in 2007
|
Blue
|
The site of St. Peter's Fields where on 16th August 1819 Henry Hunt, Radical orator addressed an assembly of about 60,000 people. Their subsequent dispersal by the military is remembered as 'Peterloo'.
|
1972
2007
|
7
|
James Sadler
Corporation Street and
Balloon Street
|
Blue
|
From a garden on this site James Sadler pioneer English aeronaut made the first manned balloon ascent in Manchester 12th May 1785.
|
1972
|
8
|
Frances Hodgson Burnett
385 Cheetham Hill Road
Building demolished – plaque now in Manchester Metropolitan University (former Manchester Polytechnic)
|
Blue
|
Frances Hodgson Burnett (1849 - 1924) Novelist and Authoress of 'Little Lord Fauntleroy' and many other works lived here (1852 - 1854)
|
1974
|
No.
|
Name and Location
|
Colour
|
Inscription
|
Installed
|
9
|
Prince Rupert
Didsbury Library
|
Blue
|
In May 1644 at 'Barloe More' near this site Prince Rupert (1619 - 1682) and his Royalist Army encamped on their march to the battle of Marston Moor, Yorkshire, 2nd July 1644.
|
1973
|
10
|
Portico Library
Mosley Street
|
Blue
|
Portico Library 1806, Thomas Harrison Architect (1744 - 1829)
Richard Cobden, John Dalton, Elizabeth Gaskell, Sir Robert Peel, Thomas de Quincey, Peter Mark Roget were readers here.
|
1973
|
11
|
Elilzabeth Cleghorn Gaskell
84 Plymouth Grove
|
Blue
|
Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell (1810 - 1865) Novelist and Authoress of 'Mary Barton', 'Cranford' and many other works lived here (1849 - 1865).
|
1974
|
12
|
Charlotte Bronte
Boundary Lane
|
Blue
|
In 1846 at 83 Mount Pleasant on this site Charlotte Bronte (1816 - 1855) Novelist began to write 'Jane Eyre'.
|
1974
|
13
|
Frederick Henry Royce
Charles Barry Crescent
Hulme
|
Blue
|
In Cook Street on this site in 1884 Frederick Henry Royce (1863 - 1933) opened an engineering workshop and built there the first Rolls Royce car in 1904.
|
1974
|
14
|
Sir Charles Halle
Duxbury Square
Moss Side
|
Blue
|
Sir Charles Halle (1819 - 1895) founder of the world-renowned orchestra lived from (1858 - 1895) at No.70 Greenheys Lane, which stood on this site.
|
1973
|
15
|
Major General
Charles Worsley
Platt Hall, Rusholme
|
Blue
|
The family home of Charles Worsley MP (1623 - 1656) First Member for Manchester (1654), Puritan soldier and Cromwell's Major General.
|
1974
|
16
|
Richard Lane
Grosvenor Street
All Saints
|
Blue
|
The site of Chorlton-upon-Medlock Town Hall (1830 -1970). Richard Lane Architect fl. (1815 - 1858). His Doric Portico still remains.
|
1973
|
No.
|
Name and Location
|
Colour
|
Inscription
|
Installed
|
17
|
Captain Sir John Alcock
6 Kingswood Road
Fallowfield
|
Blue
|
Capt. Sir John Alcock KBE DSC (1892 - 1919) who with Lieut. Sir Arthur Whitten Brown made the first non-stop aeroplane crossing
of the Atlantic 14 - 15 June 1919 lived here.
|
1973
|
18
|
Lieut. Sir Arthur
Whitten Brown
6 Oswald Road
Chorlton-cum-Hardy
|
Blue
|
Lieut. Sir Arthur Whitten Brown KBE (1886 - 1948) who with Capt. Sir John Alcock made the first non-stop aeroplane crossing of the Atlantic 14 - 15 June 1919 lived here.
|
1974
|
19
|
Manchester Poor House
Spinningfield
Deansgate
|
Blue
|
From 1764 to 1792 there stood on this site in Cumberland St. the Manchester Poor House. The building later became 'The Duke of Cumberland' tavern from (1819 - 1901).
|
1973
|
20
|
Revd. John Wesley
Central Hall
Oldham Street
|
Blue
|
On this site The Revd. John Wesley (1703 - 1791) opened the second Methodist Preaching House in Manchester, 30th March 1781.
|
1974
|
21
|
Sir William Brereton
Didsbury Library
|
Blue
|
In May 1645 Parliamentary troops under Sir William Brereton (1604 - 1661) of Handforth Hall also mustered at Prince Rupert’s ‘Barloe More' rendezvous.
|
1974
|
22
|
Site of Alport Lodge
Deansgate and
St.John Street
|
Blue
|
Site of Alport Lodge. In a siege
of the town in September 1642 Lord Strange's Royalist forces
fired cannon from here along Deansgate.
|
1976
|
23
|
Charles Edward Stuart
Byrom Street and
Artillery Street
|
Blue
|
In November 1745 Jacobite forces under Charles Edward Stuart
('Bonny Prince Charlie') (1720 -
1788) used this site as a gun park.
|
1976
|
24
|
Charles Robert Cockerell
King Street
|
Blue
|
From (1845 - 1971) the Bank of England occupied this building designed by Charles Robert Cockerell RA, (1788 - 1863) Architect and archaeologist.
|
1976
|
No.
|
Name and Location
|
Colour
|
Inscription
|
Installed
|
25
|
Early Methodist
Preaching Room
Blackfriars Street and
Deansgate
|
Blue
|
Site of Rose and Crown Yard. Here in a weaver's cottage John Bennet and John Nelson opened an early Methodist preaching
room (c. 1747).
|
1976
|
26
|
Robert Bradshaw
John Rosworm
Victoria Bridge Street
|
Blue
|
Siege of Manchester (1642). Captains Robert Bradshaw and John Rosworm commanding the town's forces repulsed Royalist troops on the old bridge next to this site.
|
1977
|
27
|
Louis Paulhan
25 - 27 Paulhan Road
Didsbury
|
Blue
|
Louis Paulhan (1883 - 1963) Pioneer French aviator landed a Farman biplane in a field on this site making the first London /
Manchester flight, 28 April 1910.
|
1976
|
28
|
Friedrich Engels
Aberdeen House University
|
Blue
|
Friedrich Engels (1820 - 1895) Social philosopher and writer lived at No.6 Thorncliffe Grove, which once stood on this site.
|
1976
|
29
|
Manchester Ship
Canal Meeting 1882
Shirley Institute
Wilmslow Road,
Didsbury
|
Blue
|
Lodge of 'The Towers' Daniel Adamson's home where the historic decision to build Manchester Ship Canal was taken 27 June 1882.
|
1978
|
30
|
Daniel Adamson
'The Towers'
(Shirley Institute)
|
Blue
|
Daniel Adamson (1820 - 1890) Engineer, Ironfounder and leading promoter of Manchester Ship Canal lived here.
|
1978
|
31
|
Edgar Wood
Daisy Bank Road
Victoria Park
|
Blue
|
Edgar Wood (1860 - 1936)
Artist - Architect designed this former First Church of Christ Scientist (1903)
|
1978
|
32
|
Sir Harry Smith
Daisy Bank Road
Victoria Park
|
Blue
|
Sir Harry Smith Bart (1787 - 1860) Soldier, Statesman and Governor of the Cape of Good Hope, lived here.
|
1979
|
No.
|
Name and Location
|
Colour
|
Inscription
|
Installed
|
33
|
Ford Madox Brown and Charles Halle. Addison Terrace, Daisy Bank Road, Victoria Park.
|
Blue
|
Charles Halle (1819 - 1895) Musician and Conductor Ford Madox Brown (1821 - 1893) Pre-Raphaelite Artist lived here.
|
1981
|
34
|
John Hay Beith
Wilmslow Road, Rusholme
|
Blue
|
John Hay Beith ('Ian Hay') (1876 - 1952) Novelist and playwright born at Platt Abbey on this site 17th April 1876.
|
1979
|
35
|
Alliot Verdon Roe Great Ancoats Street (Provisional)
|
Blue
|
Sir Alliot Verdon Roe (1877 - 1958). The first Englishman to fly an aircraft of his own design and construction 8th June 1908. Opened a workshop here 1st January 1910.
|
|
36
|
Ellen Wilkinson
Balsam Close,
Brunswick.
|
Blue
|
Ellen Wilkinson (1891 - 1947) Stateswoman and Cabinet Minister was born at 41 Coral Street on this site.
|
1980
|
37
|
Edwin Chadwick
5 Kingfisher Close,
Stockport Road, Longsight
|
Blue
|
Edwin Chadwick (1800 - 1890) Poor Law and Sanitary reformer and administrator was born in a cottage on this site.
|
1980
|
38
|
John Dalton
36 George Street, City.
See also 117
|
Blue
|
John Dalton (1766 - 1844) Founder of the scientific atomic theory President of Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society had his laboratory here. (See also 117)
|
1980
|
39
|
Ernest Jones
Bow Chambers, Bow Lane,
City.
|
Blue
|
Ernest Jones (1819 - 1869) Chartist leader and barrister at
law practised from chambers here c1863 - 1869. (Also see 117)
|
c1983
|
40
|
Barton Arcade and the Catenian Association
Barton Square
|
Blue
|
Barton Arcade 1871. The founder members of the Catenian Association held their first meeting here in March 1908.
|
c1983
|
41
|
Walter Carroll
117 Lapwing Lane
Didsbury
|
Blue
|
Walter Carroll (1869 - 1955) Musician and composer lived here.
|
c1984
|
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