The District Council has launched a Blue Plaque Scheme to recognise important people who have lived in Bassetlaw over the centuries.
There is currently only one blue plaque in the district. It is dedicated to Squadron Leader Nowak (funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund).
We would be delighted to hear from residents and local groups about other individuals from the district’s past that it is felt should be recognised in this way.
Criteria
Consideration will be given to the erection of plaques on buildings associated with famous people who:
- Are likely to be regarded as eminent by a majority of members of their own profession or calling
- Have made some important positive contribution to human welfare or happiness, and
- Merit local recognition
- Commemoration will not be considered during the subject’s lifetime or within five years of their death.
- Plaques should not be erected on the sites of former houses occupied by famous people.
- Plaques shall only exceptionally be erected on buildings occupied for less than two years by the person being commemorated.
- Plaques will be considered for commemoration of sites of special historical interest.
- A building shall not be marked solely because it figures in a work of fiction.
- Suggestions for plaques will not normally be considered where the person is already commemorated by a plaque, previously erected by the Council or some other local or national organisation.
Nominations
To nominate a person or event to be commemorated, you will need to provide:
- The name of the person or details of the event
- The property or site on which the plaque should be placed, including the owner’s name and address
- Details of why you think the person or event is worthy of consideration based on the selection criteria above.
- Funding for the blue plaques is limited, so consideration will be given if other sources of funding are known
An application can be submitted either Online or by emailing Planning Conservation Team, telephone 01909 533427 or emailing Head of Corporate Services.
PLEASE NOTE: The District Council requires the permission of the property owner to install a blue plaque. The Council cannot insist agreement is given.
Determining Application
A Panel consisting of:
- District Council Cabinet Member for Regeneration
- District Council Ward Councillor(s)
- Civic Society representative (if Worksop or Retford)
- Parish Council representative (if in a rural area)
- Policy and Communications Manager
- Conservation Officer
Current Blue Plaques
- 128 Bridge Street, Worksop (plaque to William Straw) installed 2018, by Bassetlaw District Council;
- 4 Hardy Street, Worksop (plaque to Polish WW2 airman Squadron Leader Wladyslaw Jan Nowak) installed in 2016, paid for by Armed Forces Community Covenant Fund;
- 29 Bridgegate, Retford (plaque that states that John Wesley preached there in 1786) installed 2008 by Retford Civic Society;
- Retford Denman Library, 17 Churchgate, Retford (Dedicated to Thomas Hercy Denman who gave the building to the town in 1926 for use as a library) installed 2022, paid for by Bassetlaw District Council & Retford Civic Society;
- 4 Chapelgate, Retford (formerly The Crown Inn, location of announcement in 1770 that the Chesterfield Canal would be built through Retford) installed 2024, paid for by Chesterfield Canal Trust, Bassetlaw District Council and Retford Civic Society;
- Public WCs, Chapelgate, Retford (plaque to Flight Lieutenant James ‘Jimmy’ Atterby McCairn who lived on the site) installed 2018, by Royal Air Force Association, Bassetlaw District Council and Retford Civic Society;
- Starbucks (formerly Little Chef), Markham Moor (located on the iconic ‘Hyperbolic Paraboloid’ roof structure, originally a petrol station built 1960-61 to designs by architect Hugh Segar (Sam) Scorer and structural engineer Dr Hajnal-Kónyi) Installed c2020 by National Transport Trust. Note this is a red plaque as are all the NTT ones.
Last Updated on Wednesday, January 8, 2025