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Commemorative Plaques Scheme

Manchester City Council installed its first commemorative plaque in 1960, and since then has installed over 100 of them. Plaques are an effective and visible means of celebrating Manchester’s heritage and our historic environment, tangibly connecting past and present, increasing pride among local communities and giving a sense of place to residents and visitors. Plaques can also play an important conservation role, helping to highlight buildings with historic associations and support their preservation.

Nominate an individual

This scheme commemorates people and events who have contributed to the rich social, political and cultural heritage of Manchester.

To be commemorated, a person should have lived or worked in Manchester for at least five years, and at least 10 years should have passed since the anniversary of their death. An individual may not be commemorated on more than one plaque within this scheme. An event should have passed its 25th anniversary and have proven significance to the history of Manchester.

This is a City of Manchester scheme, so we can only consider proposals for plaques that are sited within the administrative boundaries of Manchester City Council. Please read the additional assessment criteria below before completing the nomination form.

To commemorate a person

At least 10 years should have passed since their death They should be:

Sufficiently famous to be familiar to the succeeding generation or be regarded as sufficiently significant within their field
Their achievements must have made a lasting and significant contribution
The building on which the plaque will be fixed must be directly related to the proposed person, and they must have lived or worked there for at least 5 years

In addition, please note that

Plaques will not normally be installed on hotels or public venues (eg concert halls) where connections with the building were transitory
A person cannot be commemorated on more than one plaque within the City Council scheme.

To commemorate an event

The event should have happened at least 25 years ago
The event should be instantly recognisable to many of the general public
The event should be of special historical interest or significance in the history of Manchester or the country as a whole
The building proposed for installation must be directly related to the event

Commemorative plaque

Additional considerations

The Board will only approve plaques that will be visible to passers-by
Where possible, you should get the agreement of the building owner
Exceptional cases will be considered on their merits, subject to the submission of a thoroughly researched and justified case

Funding

Unfortunately, there is no budget to pay for the costs of plaques, so proposals can only be taken forward if the proposer or supporting group are able to meet costs.

Costs could include
The making of the plaque (usually around £750 plus installation &VAT.)
The installation of the plaque (usually around £200 depending on the type of building)
Any legal costs (e.g. indemnification of building owner)
Research and validation (if required)
Any special costs around listed building consent or other planning consents
The cost of an unveiling event (if required)

If you would like more information about the scheme please contact Amanda Wallace:

Amanda Wallace,
Senior Operational Lead,
Manchester Art Gallery,
Mosley Street,
Manchester
M2 3JL,

0161 235 8860

[email protected]

"*" indicates required fields

Name*
Address*
Has outline consent been obtained from the owner?*
Does your plaque have existing support from community or other groups?*
Are you willing to fund this proposal?*