Writing's on the wall for blue plaque group

It has been responsible for putting blue plaques up on buildings in Wolverhampton for almost 20 years.

But now the group behind the circular signs is preparing to call it a day at the end of this year after half a century.

Wolverhampton Civic Society is planning to mark the end of an era by erecting their 100th plaque in the city.

The society has installed 94 cast iron plaques to honour actors, artists, architects, doctors, musicians, poets, writers and political leaders who have lived in Wolverhampton.

Plaque secretary Steve Martin, aged 57, joined the society just over five years ago.

He said today restoring civic pride and celebrating its rich history was the idea behind the plaques, which are designed locally by Barr & Grosvenor based in Jenner Street, off Bilston Road.

"When I moved to Wolverhampton, the first thing I noticed was how little history was celebrated in the city," Mr Martin said.

"There have been some great people that have lived here but it is not obvious when you pay Wolverhampton a visit."

The first plaque honouring industrialist George Thornleycroft, founder of The Shrubbery Ironworks in Horseley Fields and Wolverhampton's first mayor, was put up in 1983. There are around 60 plaques on buildings in the city centre, with the others erected on the outskirts.

One on the front of Your Move estate agents in Waterloo Road commemorates the MacDonald sisters, who lived in the property between 1862-1963.

Another of the signs, on the corner of Princes Square, commemorates the first set of traffic lights in the world, which were permanently installed in Wolverhampton in October 1928.

Another remembers Sir Roland Hill who founded the Penny Post and broadcasting personality Gilbert Harding.

The group will be merged with Wolverhampton History and Historical Society and renamed Wolverhampton Civic and Historical Society.