Criteria Used in the Evaluation of Suggestions for Plaques in Beeston, Chilwell, Attenborough, Bramcote and Toton.
Public nominations are essential to the work of any Plaque scheme, and Lady Plaques is no different. Indeed, owing to documentation of women’s lives throughout history being scarcer and harder to find, campaigns of this type rely upon stories in families, groups, and communities – therefore, nominations are welcomed by anyone. However, in the event that many more such suggestions may be received than can be approved, and given the resources available at Beeston Civic Society (a charity run by volunteers), there are highly selective criteria for nominations, and proposers (whether individuals or organisations) are limited to the submission of one proposal per calendar year for a single subject or for multiple subjects and buildings meeting the criteria outlined in clauses (e) and (g) below.
The following criteria will be used by Beeston Civic Society to assess proposals for the installation of permanent commemorative plaques in our region. They are based on those originally adopted by the South Broxtowe Blue Plaques Scheme (itself based upon Heritage England’s criteria adopted by London County Council in the 1950s).
All plaque suggestions meeting the following basic conditions of acceptance will be considered by the Plaques Panel: Figures should have been deceased for twenty years, and have a demonstrable association with a surviving home or workplace in either Beeston, Chilwell, Attenborough, Bramcote or Toton. Owing to the limited resources available, Beeston Civic Society reserves the right to determine priorities among the subjects suggested.
(a) For proposals concerning famous or important people, the following requirements must – in the judgement of the Lady Plaques Panel – be met:
i. They should be female.
ii. They should be of significant public standing in a local, national or international context;
or
iii. They should be understood to have made some important positive contribution to human welfare or happiness, public recognition or community value or local heritage;
or
v. There shall be strong grounds for believing that they are regarded as eminent and distinguished by a majority of members of their own profession or calling;
or
vi. They should be understood to have made some exceptional, formative or distinguished achievement in terms of history in the local context.
(b) Without exception, proposals for such commemoration will not be considered until the subject has been dead for at least twenty years.
(c) A person’s residence in Beeston, Chilwell, Attenborough, Bramcote or Toton should have been a significant period, in length of time or in importance, within their life and work.
(e) Proposals will be considered for plaques commemorating more than one person. In such instances, each of the figures to be commemorated must be of significance in their own right and, in the judgement of the Panel, meet criterion (a).
(f) Animals and fictitious characters will not be considered for commemoration.
(g) Proposals can be considered for the commemoration of buildings that have a historical significance worthy of public notice – other than a particular personal association – either because:
(i) a historical event of particular importance occurred there, or
(ii) the building had an important historical significance that is not obvious from its present appearance, use or any existing commemoration. However, proposals in this category can be accepted and assessed only as resources permit, and at the discretion of Beeston Civic Society.
(h) Although most plaques are erected on houses, flats and places of work associated with famous people, other types of building are not excluded. However, plaques shall not be erected to commemorate short term associations with educational or ecclesiastical buildings, military establishments, hospitals, hotels, or private clubs.
(i) A plaque will only be placed on building fabric that is contemporary with or pre-dates the association being commemorated unless the circumstances are exceptional.
(j) A plaque must be clearly visible from the public highway and will normally only be erected on a building or boundary wall.
(k) Proposals will not be considered where a person’s association with the relevant building is already clearly and permanently marked or commemorated in some way, by local authorities, privately, or under some other initiative.
(l) Proposals will also not be considered where a person has already been commemorated by a plaque previously erected elsewhere by Beeston Civic Society or its predecessors.
Beeston Civic Society
8 March 2023
Beeston Civic Society 