Hunting for history on the blue plaques trail

London is littered with the ceramic blue plaques that recognise the former residences of figures from history. The scheme officially began in 1867 with a plaque for the poet Lord Byron, followed by another for the French Emperor, Napoleon III.

Sadly Lord Byron’s house on Hollis Street, Cavendish Square was demolished in 1889 and today the site is occupied by a large John Lewis outlet. But London’s nine hundred other blue plaques have fared rather better. While many of the recipients are well-known statesmen, celebrities, scientists and writers, some of the more obscure inscriptions include Luke Howard “Namer of Clouds”, Willy Clarkson “Theatrical Wigmaker” and Prince Peter Kropotkin “Theorist of Anarchism”.

The gallery shows some of the houses occupied by one-time Londoners. Most are still in private hands, but many are now open as museums for their former owners.