Commemorative Plaques
The Blue Plaque Commemoration Scheme
It was suggested to the Council early in 2016 that a commemorative plaque scheme be introduced in the Town. Following a consultation period which ended in mid-January 2017, a list of nominations was compiled. These were considered by the Planning and Development Committee and the next step was to contact the owners of the buildings where we hoped to install the plaques to gain their permission and also gain Listed Building Consent if this was required. This process was started following their meeting on 16 March 2017.
Click here to view the list of nominations received (Opens in a new window)
The Committee also looked at various options for the design of the plaques as they don't have to be blue although this is the usual colour. However, after consideration, they opted for a traditional blue style, cast in aluminium with raised lettering, border and emblem.
We have been working closely with Gordon Smith, local historian, throughout this project and would like to thank him for his continued invaluable help and knowledge.
The Blue Plaque Trail
The Blue Plaque trail was launched in June 2020 and we hope this will be of interest to residents and visitors alike.
The trail follows all 23 of our blue plaques placed in areas of significance around Blyth. It includes detailed historical information surrounding each commemorative piece.
The virtual heritage trail can be accessed via mobile device - if you would like to follow along.
A printed version has been distributed to community centres across Blyth and Blyth library. After the current lockdown, it is our intention to distribute these further afield.
Send us your nominations
Although the consultation period has ended, we are happy to receive nominations at any time. Nominations, together with background information, should be made by letter or email to the Town Council. If it is a person being nominated we would like to know either where they were born or spent most of their lives. If a building no longer exists we could commemorate the site/location.
Email: info@blythtowncouncil.gov.uk
Blyth Town Council
Arms Evertyne House
Quay Road
Blyth Northumberland NE24 2AS
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Blyth’s Installed Blue Plaques |
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Plaque Name |
Location |
Information |
Picture |
|---|---|---|---|
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Aaron Walton |
Blyth Library Building, Bridge Street, Blyth NE24 1DJ |
Aaron Walton was Mayor of Blyth on 11 occasions, Chairman of Blyth Library, Councillor and Alderman given the Honorary Freedom of the Borough in 1960, Blyth Spartans Club President. |
Please Click Here to View The Installed Plaque for Aaron Walton |
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Bella Reay |
Blyth Spartans Clubhouse, Croft Park, Plessey Rd, Northumberland, Blyth NE24 3JE |
Female footballer Bella Reay played at centre forward for Blyth Spartans and England between 1917 – 19 scoring an amazing 133 goals in one season. After World War One, women’s competitive football was generally unaccepted in public circles making her playing achievement even more remarkable. |
Please Click Here to View The Installed Plaque for Bella Reay |
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Blyth Battery |
Blyth Battery, Blyth, NE24 3PQ |
Blyth Battery is a World War One coastal artillery battery that was built in 1916 and served in both the First World War and World War 2. It is now run by volunteers as a museum and contains several features associated with a defended port battery including replica 6-inch guns, observation posts and a searchlight building. The site also contains a 1940’s family room highlighting the fashion and furniture of a typical wartime home. |
Please Click Here to View The Installed Plaque for Blyth Battery |
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Blyth Shipbuilding and Dry Docks Company |
Offshore House, Albert Street, Blyth, NE24 1LZ |
This was the site of the original Blyth Shipyard, which was opened on the 25 July at the Catapult offices. |
Please Click Here to View The Installed Plaque for Blyth Shipbuilding and Dry Docks Company |
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Blyth Stationmaster’s House |
28 Delaval Terrace, NE24 1DL |
This was the site of the Cowpen Lodge, which was demolished in 1884, and the house was then built later that year in preparation for the fourth railway station which was opened in October 1895 |
Please Click Here to View The Installed Plaque for Blyth Stationmaster’s House |
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Blyth’s First Chapel of Ease |
St Cuthbert’s Church, 27 Wellington Street, Blyth, NE24 3BE |
The site of Blyth’s first Chapel of Ease, which was erected in 1751, located at St Cuthbert’s Church Hall |
Please Click Here to View The Installed Plaque for Blyth’s First Chapel of Ease |
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Blyth’s First Theatre |
Keel Row Shopping Centre, Blyth, NE24 1AH |
The site of Blyth’s first Theatre |
Please Click Here to View The Installed Plaque for Blyth’s First Theatre |
|
Bob Elliott |
Blue plaque on Bob Elliott House, Wright Street, NE24 1HB |
Bob Elliot was an unemployed miner and prominent member of the National Unemployed Workers Movement (NUWM). |
Please Click Here to View The Installed Plaque for Bob Elliott |
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Captain William Smith |
Blyth Tall Ship, Apprentice Workshop, Quayside, South Harbour, Blyth, Northumberland, NE24 3PA |
Captain William Smith was a resident of Blyth who would go on to become the discoverer of South Shetland. |
Please Click Here to View The Installed Plaque for Captain William Smith |
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Cowpen Hall |
Blue plaque on Bebside Care Home, Patterdale Road, NE24 5JU |
Henry Sidney purchased Cowpen Hall, and some extensive lands in the west part of Cowpen Township from Stephen Mitford in 1729. He was a barrister. |
Please Click Here to View The Installed Plaque for Cowpen Hall |
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Dr Gilbert Ward |
Frameworks, 24 Bridge St, Blyth NE24 2BP |
Dr Gilbert Ward started the fund to raise the money to build Blyth Memorial Hospital. Opened by Lady Ridley 28 December 1887.He is commemorated by a statue at the entrance to Ward 1 in the Blyth Community Hospital. |
Please Click Here to View The Installed Plaque for Dr Gilbert Ward |
|
Elfin Submarine Base |
Port of Blyth, South Harbour, Blyth, NE24 3PB |
Please note the Blue Plaque is currently unavailable to view due to ongoing construction of where it is located.Blyth Submarine base was in use from 1916-1919 for use in the First World War, and then reopened in 1939-1945 for use in the Second World War. |
Please Click Here to View The Installed Plaque for Elfin Submarine Base |
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Fred Stoker |
13 Bath Terrace, Blyth, NE24 3AX |
Fred Stoker was the founder of Blyth Spartans and was the Harley Street doctor and Horticulturalist who lived in 13 Bath Terrace. |
Please Click Here to View The Installed Plaque for Fred Stoker |
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George Skee |
The Commissioners Quay Inn, Quay Road, Blyth, NE24 3AF |
George Skee opened the Newsham Pottery and created the bust of Lord Ridley which used to be in Ridley Park. He also worked building sets in Hollywood after emigrating there. George created the dinosaurs for 'The Lost World' and worked on the set of 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' starring Lon Chaney. He later became a preacher and visited Blyth where his relatives live today. George lived at 5 Seaview - the site where Blyth Workspace is built. |
Please Click Here to View The Installed Plaque for George Skee |
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Lightship LV50 |
Royal Northumberland Yacht Club, South Harbour, Blyth, NE24 3PB |
The Lightship LV50 was designed by Bernard Waymouth and built in 1879 by Fletcher Son and Fearnall at the Union Dock, London. It is one of only three floating timber light vessels left in Great Britain. The National Historic Ships UK register her as being of National Importance, Certificate Number 141. After 73 years of service, repairs and refits the LV50 was decommissioned and moved to a breakers yard in Harwich. In 1952 the Royal Northumberland Yacht Club towed her to Blyth to become the third vessel to serve as the club’s house yacht. In July 1954 the ship was opened for use by club members in time for the Blyth Regatta. In 1955 she was re-ballasted with 6 tons of granite blocks (from Northumberland Street in Newcastle), 1956 the new deckhouse extension was installed and in 1957 the ‘Penthouse’ was constructed, raising the cadet’s quarters, above the steward’s quarters, by 15”. Inside there is a bar, a saloon and a galley able to serve up an a la-carte menu to members at the many functions which take place on board. There is a race office as well as toilets and showers on the upper decks. |
Please Click Here to View The Installed Plaque for Lightship LV50 - RNYC |
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Newsham Station Building |
Links View, Blyth, NE24 4PB |
The Newsham Station Building was opened in 1851 and was owned by the Blyth & Tyne Railway Company. This would go on to be used for 113 years, until eventually being closed to passengers in 1965. |
Please Click Here to View The Installed Plaque for Newsham Station Building |
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Richard ‘Dicky’ Fynes |
Keel Row Shopping Centre, Blyth, NE24 1AH |
Richard Fynes was the miners’ leader who helped the local co-operative society – known as the “Father of Drama” in Blyth. He was born in 1828 and died in 1892. |
Please Click Here to View The Installed Plaque for Richard ‘Dicky’ Fynes |
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Richard Stannard |
Richard Stannard House, 40 Bridge St, NE24 2AG |
Richard Been Stannard (1902-1977) lived in Cowpen Quay, Blyth. In February 1912 his father George, died when his ship, the Mount Oswald, was lost with all hands on a voyage from Baltimore, USA. Richard was educated at the Royal naval Merchant School for orphans of merchant seamen. |
Please Click Here to View The Installed Plaque for Richard Stannard |
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Royal Warwickshire Regiment |
Dave Stephens Centre, Links Road, Blyth, NE24 3PL |
On the 24 August 1917 9 Soldiers of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment were drowned. A service was held and the plaque unveiled in August 2017 to commemorate the centenary of the tragedy. |
Please Click Here to View The Installed Plaque for Royal Warwickshire Regiment |
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Site of Blyth’s Original Railway Station |
Bradleys Master Locksmiths, King Street, Blyth, Northumberland, NE24 1LY |
The first Railway Station in Blyth was opened on 3 March 1847 and stood on this site, and closed on the 1 May 1867 when the second Station opened. |
Please Click Here to View The Installed Plaque for the site of Blyth’s Original Railway Station |
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Site of the Salt Pans |
Arms Evertyne House, Quay Road, Blyth, NE24 2AS |
The Blyth Salt Pans were located near what is now Arms Evertyne House, and were in operation between 1715 and 1876. |
Please Click Here to View The Installed Plaque for the site of the Salt Pans |
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First World War Thomas Knight Memorial Hospital |
Thomas Knight Home, 1 Beaconsfield Street, Blyth, NE24 2DN |
Thomas Knight, ship-owner, whose bequest laid the foundations of a hospital in Blyth. Also to Dr Gilbert Ward, who started the fund to raise money to build the hospital. Opened by Lady Ridley 28 December 1887. |
Please Click Here to View The Installed Plaque for First World War Thomas Knight Memorial Hospital |
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Willie Carr |
St Cuthbert’s Church, 27 Wellington Street, Blyth, NE24 3BE |
Willie Carr is Blyth’s famed Strongman and Blacksmith and at one point the world’s strongest man. The plaque on St Cuthbert’s Church commemorates this. Willie was born in 1756 and died in 1825. |
Please Click Here to View The Installed Plaque for Willie Carr |
