A letter to the Sheffield Star.
Let’s celebrate historic Sheffielders
It is great that the designer of Sheffield Botanical Gardens in my Broomhill and Sharrow Vale ward is to be publicly commemorated.
Scotsman Robert Marnock was a sought-after landscape gardener in the nineteenth century. Now his legacy will have a permanent place, with a blue plaque at the main entrance.
Blue plaques celebrate people throughout history who have made significant and positive contributions to human welfare and happiness. Historic England, the scheme organiser, will be looking for nominations from mid-May to July.
But anyone can put up a plaque marking a historic site. You need permission from the owner of the building and, if it is listed, you must get consent.
Local historian Martin Naylor has raised money for a plaque on the building on the site of the Marples Hotel in Fitzalan Square. The hotel was destroyed during the blitz with the loss of 70 lives. The plaque will be unveiled on April 6th.
Martin raised funds through a series of talks on local history. If you feel someone deserves to be commemorated, you could try crowd-funding. Or perhaps a dedicated City Council Fund could be set up to raise funds in support of historical figures deserving recognition?
In recent times public recognition has been awarded to a more diverse range of people. Who would you nominate?
Brian Holmshaw, Councillor, Broomhill and Sharrow Vale Ward, Green Party
Brian is currently campaigning to be re-elected in Broomhill and Sharrowvale Ward. More details here.