Museums

As part of the HIstories of Northamptonshire project, the Blue Plaque Scheme is intended to commemorate people and places that have made a significant contribution to the history and culture of West Northamptonshire.

Following the 2019 Northampton Blue Plaque Scheme, which commemorated four local people who had made a significant material contribution to the residents and reputation of the town, this is an opportunity to celebrating the heritage of the wider WNC area and recognise some of the many remarkable individuals who have called it home

Members of the public are invited to propose individuals or groups for recognition via the Blue Plaque Scheme through an open application process. Nominees will be considered and final selections made by an advisory panel of experts in Northamptonshire history and cultures as well as representatives of the community.

Nominees for HON Blue Plaque Scheme should

• Be deceased (for at least 20 years).
• Not be a fictious character or animal
• Have made a significant contribution to the history and culture of Northamptonshire
• Not already be recognised in the WNC area with a plaque, panel or statue.
• Have a clear connection to a surviving location or building in the West Northamptonshire area

More detailed guidance on nominations and suitability can be found below.

Following selection and research on the nominated individuals the plaques will be installed across the county during the A History of Northamptonshire in 100 Objects exhibition opening in September 2025.

Nominations will open in 3 February 2025 with final date for submission 30 April 2025.

You can make a nomination online here or alternatively email hon@westnorthants.gov.uk for further guidance and nomination form.

We will also be recruiting research volunteers to assist with gathering information about the potential nominees and writing their stories for the plaque and supporting publications such as the Histories of Northamptonshire website. If you would like to be involved with the Blue Plaques Scheme as a research volunteer please visit our volunteer pages to apply.

Guidance on making a Blue Plaque nomination

Who can be nominated?

• All nominees for commemoration with a Blue Plaque must have been dead for at least 20 years. This is to ensure that the decision-making process is considered and supported by a sufficient period of reflection on a person's life and achievements.

• All nominees must be a real person that is not a fictious character, place or an animal or other object.

• Nominees should not already be the subject of a plaque, panel or statue installed in the WNC area. If a plaque exists elsewhere in the country (not in WNC) then it is eligible.

• Nominations for groups of people may be considered with relation to commemorating a specific event or activity associated with that group but must contain one named individual who is of significance in their own right.

What should nominees have achieved?

• Nominees should have made a significant (demonstrable) contribution to the history and culture of Northamptonshire.

• The scheme is designed to commemorate the stories of inspirational local people, from all walks of life who have made an exceptional impact in their field, community or society as a whole. This could be in the fields of history, arts, economics, law, literature, medicine, politics or sport or a wide range of other areas of interest.

• Nominations are welcome from all communities which tell a broader story of a place or community of people for instance women, LGBTQ+, disabled people or those from minority groups – whose history and culture may have been hidden from view or excluded from traditional historical narratives or records.

• The selection process will also consider the spread of plaques across the WNC area and look to ensure that stories from all walks of life as well as achievements in different fields are commemorated.

Where can plaques be installed?

• There must be a strong and clear connection between the installation location and the proposed person. This could be place of birth, death, childhood home, substantial period of residence, workplace or the location of a significant moment in life / career.

• The installation should be on a surviving building such as a house or place of work but other permanent locations may be considered. Plaques should be erected on the building rather than a boundary wall or gate pillar as these may be more easily demolished. If the proposed location is a collection or group of buildings then the building with the strongest demonstrable connection to the person will be considered.

• The plaque must be clearly visible from the public road or right of way.

• As each plaque is intended to recognise a particular person (group) they should not be installed on buildings which already have commemorative plaques or on buildings which might reasonably be assumed to have many significant personal connections to a large number of people e.g. such as a church, school, military establishment.

• No more than 2 plaques can be installed on any single building.