English Heritage calls for more blue plaques dedicated to women

Only 14 per cent of the blue plaques in London commemorate women

You’ve seen them dotted outside homes all over London, dedicated to some of the nation’s most notable figures in arts, science and politics – but the majority of the city’s famous blue plaques celebrate men.

In fact, just 14 per cent of the 900 plaques commemorate women – a figure that English Heritage, which runs the blue plaque scheme, have admitted is “far too low”.

Now, the organisation is calling on the British public to nominate women from history to rectify the balance.

“The London blue plaques scheme is over 150 years old and the dominance of plaques to men reflects a historic blindness to both the role women have played in our society and the type of roles deemed worthy of celebration,” said Anna Eavis, curatorial director and secretary of the English Heritage blue plaques panel.

“At English Heritage we’ve long recognised this and have been doing what we can to address it, but the blue plaques scheme relies on public nominations, and we need their help.

(English Heritage (English Heritage)

“This year’s centenary of the first votes for women has brought about an increased urgency to rebalance the record of women’s contribution to history. We really hope this enthusiasm will be translated into lots more nominations and ultimately more blue plaques for women.”

The blue plaque scheme, which commemorates people from history by placing a circular plaque outside their home, was launched in 1866.

The first one was dedicated to Lord Byron, and it wasn’t until 10 years later that a blue plaque was devoted to a woman, with actor Sarah Siddons being the first.

Since then, Virginia Woolf, Agatha Christie and George Eliot are among female literary figures to have been honoured.

Meanwhile, in other fields, DNA scientist Rosalind Frankel, politician Nancy Astor and Ada Lovelace, the first computer programmer, are among the pioneers to have been given plaques.

English Heritage’s latest call for nominations comes two years after the charity launched its “plaques for women” campaign.

While this prompted an increase in the number of plaques dedicated to women, with recipients including botanist Agnes Arber and food writer Elizabeth David, the majority of nominations coming in at the time were still for men, hence the new push.

In order to nominate a woman from history for a blue plaque, check they don’t already have a plaque first – you can use English Heritage’s “Find a Plaque” tool to do this.

They must have been dead for at least 20 years and have a London-based building associated with them.

Then, all you have to do is briefly outline your choice in an email to plaques@englishheritage.org.uk.