City of London urged to add more plaques for women
Neighbourhood forum suggests candidates to address perceived imbalance in historical commemorations.
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The Barbican and Golden Lane Neighbourhood Forum is calling for a greater number of blue plaques in the City of London to be dedicated to women. The forum states that out of approximately 140 existing plaques, only three currently honour female figures. To address this perceived imbalance, the forum has put forward suggestions for new commemorations.
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The City of London Corporation has recently updated its blue plaque scheme with a stated aim to encourage nominations that celebrate underrepresented groups. This redesign follows the installation of a plaque commemorating Francis Barber, Britain's first known black schoolteacher. Submissions for the 2027 cycle of the scheme are scheduled to begin in January.
A proposal document from the forum, seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, highlighted concerns about the existing collection. It stated: "Given the remarkable history of our area, the increasing interest in it, and the likelihood that the new London Museum will only stimulate this further still, the forum would like to see some new blue plaques to correct the imbalance and represent the variety and complexity of connections here."
Forum's Suggestions for New Plaques
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The forum has proposed three specific candidates for new blue plaques in the Barbican-Golden Lane area. These include the City's first maternity hospital, which was founded at London House on Aldersgate Street. Another suggestion is Eleanor Karr, the founder of the Welcome Working Girls Institute and Restaurant. The third proposed candidate is Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan's first and only female prime minister, who resided in the Barbican during her exile.
A spokeswoman for the Barbican and Golden Lane Neighbourhood Forum indicated the scale of the desired change, stating: "We hope that the City will do more to equal the balance, at least 70 plaques to women are needed to level the scales."
Brendan Barns, who chairs the City of London Corporation's Culture, Heritage, and Libraries Committee, commented on the scheme's relaunch. He said: "The return of our blue plaques scheme reflects a renewed commitment to celebrating the people, places and organisations that have helped shape the Square Mile. Inclusivity is a key aim of the redesigned scheme... we encourage nominations that celebrate women and other underrepresented groups."
Questions this report answers
+How many blue plaques in the City of London are dedicated to women?
The Barbican and Golden Lane Neighbourhood Forum believes that only three of the City of London's approximately 140 blue plaques currently commemorate women. The forum suggests that around 70 plaques would be needed to achieve a balance.
+What new candidates has the forum suggested for blue plaques?
The forum has proposed three candidates for new blue plaques: the City's first maternity hospital, Eleanor Karr who founded the Welcome Working Girls Institute and Restaurant, and Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan's first female prime minister.
+When can people submit nominations for new blue plaques?
Submissions for the 2027 cycle of the City of London Corporation's blue plaque scheme will be accepted from January. The corporation has redesigned the scheme to encourage nominations that celebrate underrepresented groups.
WE FILE
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