Victorian Terrace Name Plaques

bpk101

I've noticed a lot of terraced houses on my street and surrounding streets have ceramic/stone name plaques on them... placed between the lower and upper bay windows:

http://bpkersey.com/images/plaque.jpg

Were these added on by owners after the original build, or did all houses have them added during? Some houses seem to have them, others not. Our house doesn't and we'd really like to re-instate or introduce one.

Are there any reclamation or reproduction outlets that deal in them?
What are they called? And is there any historical significance to what was inscribed on them... or did people just choose names?

Gordon_Hose

My 1896 Victorian end terrace has plaque that reads; "Crowborough Villas 1901" on it - heaven knows why...

bpk101

Yep - this what i've come to notice, randomness prevails it seems!

There's a good online archive of plaques found in Ipswich here: http://ipswich-lettering.org/namedbuildingslist.html

So if we were going to add one, is it a good idea... or a bit naff?!

penguine

If it doesn't already have one I think it looks a bit naff to add one.

Besides, it might confuse future local historians!

bpk101

penguine wrote: »

Besides, it might confuse future local historians!

Now i really want to add one!

jackyann

They were mostly done at the time, and local history societies often have records about the choosing of names - usually to recognise the family whose land was built on, a local dignitary, or show off where the developer had been on holiday.
A lot of modern builds have them as well.

Near to me, one of the new houses has incorporated an original plaque from the engineering works whose land the new estate was built on.

bpk101

jackyann wrote: »

They were mostly done at the time, and local history societies

That's great thanks, have just found our local history society and will contact them today... a really great resource actually! I always wanted to learn more about the history of the area we've bought in...