For the 2017 Blue Plaques Booklet please click here:

blue-plaques-of-beeston-chilwell-broxtowe-2017

For the 2016 Blue Plaques Booklet please click HERE

THE SOUTHERN BROXTOWE BLUE PLAQUE SCHEME: PROGRESS TO 3 AUGUST 2015

The Southern Broxtowe Blue Plaque scheme is almost complete.  It has been a truly collaborative venture driven by a small group of volunteers working together over six years, with representatives from the Beeston and District Civic Society, the Beeston and District Local History Society, the Stapleford and District Local History Society, and the Bramcote Conservation Society.  This joint working group, started in late 2009, will wind up once an explanatory Plaque Guide is published.

Our area covers Attenborough, Beeston, Bramcote, Chilwell, Stapleford, and Toton; all to the south-west of Nottingham in the southern quarter of the Broxtowe Borough Council area, where each of the participating societies are active.  These plaques celebrate achievement and local identity.

The first ten plaques were fixed between August 2010 and November2011, eight with a formal ceremony: 

1. Thomas Barton, our first plaque, unveiled in Chilwell by Sir Neil Cossons, 25 Aug. 2010
2. Arthur Mee, Stapleford, unveiled 22 March 2011
3. Beeston Village Cross, Church Street, Beeston, unveiled Sir Neil Cossons, 7 May 2011
4. Arthur Cossons, Church Street, Beeston, unveiled by Sir Neil Cossons, 7 May 2011
5. Admiral Sir John Borlase Warren, Stapleford, unveiled 18 May 2011
6. General Henry Ireton, Attenborough, fixed without ceremony, 22 June 2011
7. Thomas Humber, Humber Road, Beeston, unveiled 21 August 2011
8. John Clifford, Church House Nursery, Nether Street, Beeston, unveiled 20 Sept. 2011
9. Bendigo, (William Thompson), 92 Wollaton Road, Beeston, unveiled 11 Oct. 2011
10. Edward J Lowe, Astronomer, Broadgate House, Beeston, fixed 20 November 2011

In 2012, a total of seven were fixed, four with a formal ceremony:

11. Henry Hurt, High Road Chilwell, unveiled by Sir Paul Smith, 30 May 2012
12. Chilwell Explosion, site of graves, St Mary’s Churchyard, Attenborough, unveiled 1 July 2012
13. Chilwell Explosion, Orchard Cottage, Chetwynd Road, near explosion, unveiled 1 July 2012
14. Beeston Manor House, Middle Street, Beeston, fixed 26 August 2012
15. Francis Wilkinson, Anglo Scotian Mills, Albion Street, Beeston, fixed 26 August 2012
16. Beeston Lad’s Club and Stephen Hetley Pearson, Station Rd, Beeston, unveiled 7 Nov. 2012
17. Colonel BD Shaw, explosives expert, 185 Queens Road, Beeston, fixed 16 Nov. 2012

In 2013, a total of twelve were fixed, ten with a formal ceremony:

18. William Wallett, The Queen’s Jester, 220 Station Road, Beeston, unveiled 12 February 2013
19. Charles and Walter Gregory, Gregory’s Roses, 307 High Rd, Chilwell, unveiled 16 Feb. 2013
20. Sir Louis Frederick Pearson, Broadgate Park, Beeston, unveiled 18 April 2013
21. Henry John Pearson , Noel Gervis Pearson, White House, Bramcote, unveiled 18 April 2013
22. Frederic Chatfield Smith, Bramcote Hall, Moss Drive, Bramcote, unveiled 24 April 2013
23. St John’s School, 80 Nottingham Road, Stapleford, unveiled 14 June 2013
24. Former Wesley Place Methodist Chapel, Nottingham Rd, Stapleford, unveiled 17 June 2013
25. Richard Beckinsale, Actor former pupil, College House Junior School, unveiled 17 July 2013
26. George Wilkinson, Beeston, Nether Street, unveiled 31 October 2013
27. West End, Beeston’s oldest houses, 1 West End, Beeston, fixed 5 November 2013
28. Attenborough Station, Replica War Memorial, unveiled Sir William McAlpine 11 Nov. 2013
29. Chilwell Hall and The Charlton Family, High Road, Chilwell, fixed 15 December 2013

In 2014, the final five were fixed, each with a formal ceremony:

30. Site of Toton Manor House and Watermill, unveiled, High Road, Toton, 29 April 2014
31. Swiss Mills and Pollard Family, Wollaton Road, Beeston, unveiled 27 May 2014
32. The Ten Bell, Stoney Street, Beeston, unveiled 11 September
33. Sid Standard, Cycling enthusiast, 35 Chilwell Rd, Beeston, unveiled 14 September; and
34. Beeston Station, unveiled 8 October by Sir Neil Cossons, the last in this series.

Plaques are produced locally in enamelled cast aluminium by Leander Architectural of Dove Holes, Derbyshire, and become the responsibility of the property owner when fixed.  Diameter varies between 30cm and 46cm, (12” and 18”), prepared to designs based on English Heritage guidance.

Costs of manufacture, delivery and fixing for each plaque have risen from £300 to nearly £400 over the life of the project.  Only these costs have been passed on; while research, design, seeking permissions where appropriate, ordering and plaque fixing have been organised voluntarily by the participating societies as part of a single service.  That service has also included arranging 27 formal unveilings, most involving a Broxtowe or Stapleford Mayor, other dignitaries and family members.

Each plaque has been self-financed, being supported by donations from owners and other interested parties.  Material costs of more than £12,000 were covered in this way.  Treasurer services and auditing are supplied by the Beeston and District Civic Society.

Additional funding in excess of £3,000 has been raised to cover the separate production costs of preparing the Plaque Guide with publication expected towards the end of 2015. As an interim measure the Nottingham Post Bygones featured all 34 plaques over four issues in September and October 2014 and January this year.  The Plaque Group will wind up once the Plaque Guide is complete and available.

The Group gratefully acknowledges the help and support received from many individuals and organisations over the life of a local initiative that has brought people together in new and creative ways.  It has been a remarkable example of collaborative working between participating societies and many others that we hope will leave a lasting legacy for the Borough.

A separate list of postal addresses and National Grid References is attached for information.

Peter Robinson

Chairman Southern Broxtowe Blue Plaque Group

 3 August 2015

For local plaque information see: http://www.beestoncivicsociety.org.uk and http://www.beestonhistory.org.uk

Also see www.english-heritage.org.uk and www.openplaques.org

THE SOUTHERN BROXTOWE BLUE PLAQUE SCHEME:

POSTAL ADDRESSES AND NATIONAL GRID REFERENCES, 15 MARCH 2015

1. Thomas Barton, our first plaque, unveiled in Chilwell by Sir Neil Cossons, 25 August 2010

Address:  61 High Road, Chilwell, NG9 4AJ
NGR:  SK 5237 3629

2. Arthur Henry Mee, Stapleford, unveiled 22 March 2011

Address:  Arthur Mee Centre, Church Street, Stapleford, NG9 8GA
NGR:  SK 4886 3724

3. Beeston Village Cross, Beeston, unveiled Sir Neil Cossons, 7 May 2011

Address:  Church Street, Beeston, NG9 1FY
NGR:  SK 5281 3675

4. Arthur Cossons, Beeston, unveiled by Sir Neil Cossons, 7 May 2011

Address:  Church Street, Beeston, NG9 1FY
NGR:  SK 5292 3669

5. Admiral Sir John Borlase Warren, Stapleford, unveiled 18 May 2011

Address:  Walter Parker VC Memorial Square, 71 Derby Road, Stapleford, NG9 7AR
NGR:  SK 4878 3696

6. General Henry Ireton, Attenborough, fixed without ceremony, 22 June 2011

Address:  15 Church Lane, Attenborough, NG9 6AS
NGR:  SK 5129 3438

7. Thomas Humber, Beeston, unveiled 21 August 2011

Address:  The Dojo, Humber Road, Beeston, NG9 2ET
NGR:  SK 5350 3687

8. John Clifford, Church House Nursery, Nether Street, Beeston, unveiled 20 Sept. 2011

Address:  Church House Nursery, Nether Street, Beeston, NG9 2AT
NGR:  SK 5304 3666

9. Bendigo, (William Thompson), Beeston, unveiled 11 Oct. 2011

Address:  The Lace Mill, 92 Wollaton Road, Beeston, NG9 2NR
NGR:  SK 5264 3716

10. Edward J Lowe, Astronomer, Broadgate House, Beeston, fixed 20 November 2011

Address:  72 Broadgate, Beeston, NG9 2FW
NGR:  SK 5343 3743

11. Henry Hurt and John Pearson, Chilwell, unveiled by Sir Paul Smith, 30 May 2012

Address:  65 High Road, Chilwell, NG9  4AJ
NGR:  SK 5234 3628

12. Chilwell Explosion, St Mary’s, Attenborough, unveiled 1 July 2012

Address:  Churchyard of St Mary the Virgin, Church Lane, Attenborough, NG9 6AX
NGR:  SK 5111 3438

13. Chilwell Explosion, Orchard Cottage, near seat of detonation, unveiled 1 July 2012

Address:  62 Chetwynd Road, Chilwell, NG9 5GD
NGR:  SK 5111 3527

14. Beeston Manor House, Middle Street, Beeston, fixed 26 August 2012

Address:  2 Middle Street, Beeston, NG9 1FX
NGR:  SK 5290 3666

15. Francis Wilkinson, Anglo Scotian Mills, Albion Street, Beeston, fixed 26 August 2012

Address:  Francis Mill, Albion Street, Beeston, NG9 2UX
NGR:  SK 5272 3716

16. Beeston Lad’s Club and Stephen Hetley Pearson, Beeston, unveiled 7 Nov. 2012

Address:  Tesco, 1 Station Road, Beeston, NG9 2WJ
NGR:  SK 5288 3686

17. Colonel BD Shaw, explosives expert, Beeston, fixed 16 Nov. 2012

Address:  185 Queen’s Road, Beeston, NG9 2FE
NGR:  SK 5347 3677

18. William Wallett, The Queen’s Jester, Beeston, unveiled 12 February 2013

Address:  220 Station Road, Beeston, NG9 2AA
NGR:  SK 5320 3638

19. Charles and Walter Gregory, Gregory’s Roses, Chilwell, unveiled 16 Feb. 2013

Address:  307 High Road, Chilwell, NG9 5DL
NGR:  SK 5164 3584

20. Sir Louis Frederick Pearson, Beeston, unveiled 18 April 2013

Address:  Broadgate Park, Broadgate, Beeston, NG9 2LN
NGR:  SK 5310 3713

21. Henry John Pearson , Noel Gervis Pearson, Bramcote, unveiled 18 April 2013

Address:  Bramcote House, Town Street, Bramcote, NG9 3DP
NGR:  SK 5084 3739

22. Frederic Chatfield Smith, Bramcote Hall, Bramcote, unveiled 24 April 2013

Address:  Bramcote Hall gate, Moss Drive, Bramcote, NG9 3NF
NGR:  SK 5083 3746

23. St John’s Church of England Primary School, Stapleford, unveiled 14 June 2013

Address:  St John’s Primary School, 80 Nottingham Road, Stapleford, NG9 8AG
NGR:  SK 4934 3747

24. Former Wesley Place Methodist Chapel, Stapleford, unveiled 17 June 2013

Address:  Stapleford House, Wesley Place, Stapleford, NG9 8DP
NGR:  SK 4924 3742

25. Richard Beckinsale, Actor, former pupil, College House Junior School, unveiled 17 July 2013

Address:  College House Junior School, Cator Lane, Chilwell, NG9 4BB
NGR: SK 5193 3613

26. George Wilkinson, Beeston, unveiled 31 October 2013

Address:  43 Nether Street, Beeston, NG9 2AT
NGR:  SK 5316 3681

27. West End, Beeston’s oldest houses, fixed 5 November 2013

Address: 1-3 West End, Beeston, NG9 1GL
NGR:  SK 5276 3651

28. Attenborough Station, Replica War Memorial, unveiled Sir William McAlpine 11 Nov. 2013

Address:  Station Footbridge, Attenborough Lane, Attenborough, NG9 6AL
NGR:  SK 5200 3420

29. Chilwell Hall and The Charlton Family, High Road, Chilwell, fixed 15 December 2013

Address:  214-218 High Road, Chilwell, NG9 5DB
NGR:  SK 5185 3591

30. Site of Toton Manor House and Watermill, unveiled, High Road, Toton, 29 April 2014

Address:  Manor Farm Recreation Ground, High Road, Toton, NG9 6EL
NGR:  SK 5030 3432

31. Swiss Mills and Pollard Family, Beeston, unveiled 27 May 2014

Address:  46 Wollaton Road, Beeston, NG9 2NR
NGR:  SK 5277 3696

32. The Ten Bell, Stoney Street, Beeston, unveiled 11 September 2014

Address:  Stoney Street, Beeston, NG9 2LA
NGR:  SK 5290 3699

33. Sid Standard, Cycling enthusiast, Beeston, unveiled 14 September 2014

Address:  35-37 Chilwell Road, Beeston, NG9 1EH
NGR:  SK 5264 3650

34. Beeston Station, (last plaque in series) unveiled 8 October 2014 by Sir Neil Cossons

Address:  Station Road, Beeston, NG9 2JU
NGR: SK 5112 3438

Peter Robinson

16 March 2015