Information about Blue Plaques in Bristol.
Blue Plaques are put up to recognise important figures in the history of Bristol, usually in the place where they lived or worked.
We used to run the Blue Plaques scheme. The Bristol Civic Society has taken over from us.
You can look at a map of Bristol blue plaques on Know Your Place.
The Open Plaques website has details of other plaques in Bristol.
If you'd like to know more, contact Bristol Archives or Bristol Central Library.
B
Eric Ball OBE 1903-1989
'The Beethoven of Brass': Salvationist and composer who worshipped at this hall as a child.
Location: Salvation Army Hall on Two Mile Hill Road (at corner of Kennard Road), BS15 1AD
Ernest Bevin 1881-1951
General Secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union, MP and Foreign Secretary. Lived at this address.
A short biography of Ernest Bevin
Location: 39 Saxon Road, St Werburgh's, BS2 9UQ
Jack Board 1867-1924
Gloucester and England wicket keeper. Lived at this address from 1896-1902.
Wisden obituary and career statistics for Jack Board
Location: 22 Manor Road, Bishopston, BS7 8PY
Dame Clara Butt 1873-1936
Concert singer. Lived at this address from 1882 to 1886.
A short biography of Dame Clara Butt
Location: 3 Belle Vue, Totterdown, BS4 2BG
Birthplace of Bristol's aerospace industries 19 February 1910
In this building Sir George White, chairman of Bristol Tramways and Carriage Company, founded the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company and the Bristol Aeroplane Company, forerunners of British Aerospace and Rolls Royce at Filton and Patchway.
Centenary website for the Bristol Aeroplane Company
Location: Halifax Building Society, Clare Street, BS1 1XA (this plaque is currently missing)
C
Thomas Clarkson 1760-1846
Anti-slave trade campaigner. Stayed at this pub in 1787 to research the conditions of slaves being transported.
Wikipedia biography of Thomas Clarkson
Location: Seven Stars Pub, 1 Thomas Lane, Redcliffe, BS1 6JG
Russ Conway 1925–2000
Pianist, composer and entertainer, born as Trevor H Stanford. Lived at this address from 1929 to 1944.
A short biography of Russ Conway
Location: 2 Dean Lane, Southville, BS3 1DF
Norah Cooke-Hurle (nee Fry) 1871-1960
Educationalist and mental health pioneer lived at Brislington Hill House on this site from 1915 to 1921.
Wikipedia entry for Norah Cook-Hurle
Location: Stars and Stripes Pool Hall, Bath Road, Brislington Hill, BS4 5BE
D
Paul Dirac 1902-1984
Nobel Prize Laureate (1933) who revealed the secrets of quantum physics and antimatter. Born and lived at this address until 1913.
Location: 15 Monk Road, Bishopston, BS7 8LE
F
John Frost 1784-1877
Chartist leader and social revolutionary. Lived at this address from 1855 to 1877.
A short biography of John Frost
Location: 68 Park Road, Stapleton, BS16 1AU
G
The Gaiety Cinema 1933-2000
On this site stood the Gaiety Cinema, the last family owned cinema in Bristol which showed films to an estimated eight million people.
A short history of the Gaiety Cinema
Location: Corner of Crossways Road and Wells Road, Knowle, BS4 2SQ
Edward William Godwin 1833-1886
Bristol-born architect, furniture and fabric designer whose work includes the Carriageworks, Stokes Croft and Highbury Chapel, St Michael's Hill. Lived at this address from 1862 to 1865.
Wikipedia entry for Edward William Godwin
Location: 21 Portland Square, St Paul's, BS2 8SJ
Catherine Grace 1907-1986
Educational pioneer, founder of St Christopher's School. Lived at this address.
Location: 27 Upper Belgrave Road, Clifton, BS8 2XL
Elsie Griffin 1895-1989
International opera singer. Principal soprano with D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. Popularised 'Danny Boy' and 'Roses of Picardy'. Attended this school and lived nearby.
Wikipedia entry for Elsie Griffin
Location: St Michael's on the Mount Without Primary School, Park Lane, BS2 8BE
H
Ruby Helder 1890-1938
'The Lady Tenor' and international opera singer. Born nearby in Brooklyn Terrace and raised in the Glasshouse Hotel, Lawrence Hill.
Location: Flats at southern end of Easton Road, Easton, BS5 0EX
Bob Hope 1903-2003
Comedian and actor. Lived in Whitehall and St George circa 1906 to 1908.
Location: St George's Park (at entrance on Church Road), St George, BS5 9EN
Victoria Hughes 1897-1978
Befriended and cared for prostitutes when she worked as a lavatory attendant on the Downs from 1929 to 1962.
BBC news articles about Victoria Hughes
Location: Public toilets on the Downs, BS9 1FG
J
John James 1906-1996
Philanthropist who gave so much to the people of Bristol. Born and lived at this address.
John James Bristol Foundation website
Location: 96 Philip Street, Bedminster, BS3 4DR
K
Charlotte Keel 1888-1955
Alderman and health pioneer. Lived at this address from 1915 to 1955.
Location: 15 Hereford Road, St Werburgh's, BS2 9UW
Annie Kenney 1879-1930
Leading suffragette. Lived at this address in 1910.
Location: 23 Gordon Road, Clifton, BS8 1AW
L
Sir Allen Lane CH 1902-1970
Founded Penguin Books in 1935 and lived at this address from 1910 to 1919.
Location: 11 Cotham Vale, Cotham, BS6 6HS
Thomas Lawrence 1769-1830
President of the Royal Academy and portrait painter to King George III and George IV. Born at this address.
A short biography of Thomas Lawrence
Location: 9 Redcross Street; St Jude's, BS2 0BA
Adolph Leipner 1827-1894
Founded the first University Botanic Garden at Woodland Road and co-founded the Bristol Naturalists Society. Lived at this address from 1870 to 1894.
Location: 47 Hampton Park, Cotham, BS6 6LQ
M
Kassam Ismail Majothi 1924-2002
Founder of Bristol Sweet Mart at St Mark's Road.
Website of the Bristol Sweetmart
Location: 71 St Mark's Road, Easton, BS5 6HX
Hannah More 1745-1833
Educator, writer and social reformer, started the first school in Brislington at Keepers Cottage circa 1796.
Location: Keepers Cottage, Brislington Hill, Brislington, BS4 5NJ
N
Nipper the Dog 1884-1895
‘His Master's Voice': Mark Barraud (1848-1887) owner and master of Bristol born dog Nipper was employed as a scenic designer in the old Prince's Theatre in Park Row.
Location: Corner of Park Row/Woodland Road, BS1 5LT
Frank Norman 1930-1980
Author and playwright. Born at this address on 9 June 1930.
Wikipedia entry for Frank Norman
Location: 151 Whiteladies Road, Clifton, BS8 2RA
P
Lady Emmeline Pethwick Lawrence 1867-1954
Lecturer, writer, suffragist and pacifist who edited ‘Votes for Women' was born at this address.
Wikipedia entry for Emmeline Pethwick Lawrence
Location: 20 Charlotte Street, Brandon Hill, BS1 5PZ
R
Canon Hardwicke Drummond Rawnsley 1851-1920
English clergyman, poet, writer of hymns and conservationist who co-founded the National Trust in 1895.
Wikipedia entry for Hardwicke Drummond Rawnsley
Location: Community of the Sisters of the Church, 82 Ashley Road, St Paul's, BS6 5NT
Michael Redgrave 1908-1985
Actor and film star. Born at this address.
Location: 4 Horfield Road, off St Michael's Hill, BS2 8EA
Irene Rose 1883-1965
Dancer and singer. President of the Music Hall Ladies Guild. Lived at this address.
Location: 26 Richmond Street, Totterdown, BS3 4TQ (this plaque is currently missing)
Isaac Rosenberg 1890-1918
Artist and poet. Born close to this site at 5 Adelaide Place (original house now demolished).
Location: 25 Garamound House, Clarence Road, Redcliffe, BS1 6RP
Ronald Russell 1910-1994 & Peggy Ann Wood 1912-1998
Ran the Rapier Players repertory company here at the Little Theatre continuously from 1935 to 1963.
A short biography of Peggy Ann Wood
Location: Colston Hall, Colston Street, BS1 5AR
S
Ellen Sharples 1769-1849 & Rolinda Sharples 1794-1838
Mother and daughter. Artists who lived at this address from 1821 to 1832.
Wikipedia entry for Ellen Sharples
Location: 37 Canynge Road, Clifton, BS8 3LD
Jessie Stephen 1893-1979
Councillor and trade unionist who in 1952 became the first woman president of the Trades Council. Lived and died at this address.
Wikipedia entry for Jessie Stephen
Location: 27 Chessel Street, Bedminster, BS3 3DP
Sir Robert Stephens 1931-1995
Stage and screen actor and an early star of the National Theatre, London. Lived at this address from 1931 to 1939.
A short biography of Robert Stephens
Location: 34 Priory Road, Shirehampton, BS11 9TD
Rt Rev Dr Mervyn Stockwood 1913-1995
Vicar of St Michael's parish, Moorfields, 1941-1955 and Bishop of Southwark 1959-1980: 'As a Christian he inspired generosity. As a leader he fought for tolerance.'
Wikipedia entry for Mervyn Stockwood
Location: Corner of Church Road/Cowper Street, Redfield, BS5 9JZ
Elizabeth Sturge 1849-1944 & Helen Sturge 1858-1945
Pioneers in women's suffrage and education for girls and young women. Lived at this address from 1928 to 1944.
Location: 2 Durdham Park, Redland, BS6 6XA
T
Robin Tanner 1904-1988
Etcher and painter. Lived at this address.
Wikipedia entry for Robin Tanner
Location: 5 Ryde Road, Knowle, BS4 2ES
Robert Taylor GC 1920-1950
Lived at this address all his life. Killed trying to stop armed robbers at Lloyds Bank, Westbury on 13 March 1950 and awarded the George Cross for bravery.
Honorary article for Robert Taylor
Location: 24 Victoria Park, Fishponds, BS16 2HJ
Ben Tillett 1861-1943
President of the Trades Union Congress and MP.
A short biography of Ben Tillett
Location: 87 Somerset Road, Knowle, BS4 2HX
Guy Broadwith Tordoff 1908-1990
Teacher of Esperanto, pacifist and committed Quaker who travelled widely in eastern Europe to promote peace through better communication. Lived at this address from 1923 to 1988.
Location: 82 Pendennis Park, Brislington, BS4 4JN
Dame Eva Turner 1892-1990
Opera singer. Attended St Anne's School from 1901 to 1906.
Wikipedia entry for Eva Turner
Location: St Anne's School, Bloomfield Road, St Anne's, BS4 3QT
V
Ada Vachell 1866-1923
Champion of poor and disabled people and founder in 1895 of the 'Guild of the Handicapped.' Lived at this address from 1910 to 1923.
Location: Foley Cottage, 130 Hampton Road, Redland, BS6 6JE
W
John William Henry Wall 1855-1915
Novelist and local historian, ‘The Shoemaker Poet'. A pioneer of the Bristol and District Co-op Movement, founded at 38 Croydon St and opened at 22 Houlton Street in 1884. He set up the ‘Shakespeare Boot Mart'" at 15 Croydon Street in 1887. A bootcutter, on low income, who with co-operative and socialist principles, fought for the rights of working-class people.
Location: Croydon House, Croydon Street, Easton, BS5 0DX
Princess Caraboo 1791-1864
Real name Mary Wilcocks
Arrived in Almondsbury on 3 April 1817 and successfully passed herself off as Princess Caraboo from Javasu (a non-existent island) from which she claimed to have been kidnapped by pirates. Exposed ten weeks later, Mary emigrated to America returning to London 1824 and subsequently Bedminster where she became a leech dealer. From 1851 to the end of her life she lived at this address.
Location: 11 Princess Street, Bedminster, BS3 4AG
Henry Wills 1856-1922
Engineer and philanthropist. Lived at this address from 1874 to 1885.
Wikipedia entry for Henry Wills
Location: 23 Blenheim Road (off Coldharbour Road), Redland, BS6 7JL
Z
John Michael Ziman 1925-2005
Leading thinker and writer on the philosophy and history of science and prominent campaigner on the social responsibility of scientists. Lived at this address from 1964 to 1982.
More information: Wikipedia entry for John Ziman Go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ziman (opens new window)
Location: 20 Eastfield, Westbury-on-Trym, BS9 4AD