Blue Plaques

Many people may be aware of Blue Plaques dotted around the country on buildings commemorating significant people. In Kelvedon High Street there is one such plaque commemorating the birthplace of Charles Spurgeon’s (Preacher).

A small project team has been set up by the previous Lord Lieutenant of Essex and lead by Juliet Tolhurst, Deputy Lieutenant, to identify inspirational Essex women of the past who are worthy of visible public recognition. A number of Essex women have been commemorated by blue plaques or similar, and so far, the team have identified about 65 women from across the county who, they believe, have been unjustly overlooked. As a result, they are keen to support community-led projects to commemorate these women and promote them as role models.

There is now an opportunity to become involved in a project identifying and researching other former Kelvedon and Feering folk, in particular women, who too perhaps should be commemorated in such a manner. The outcome of the work of course may not result in a Blue Plaque being erected for any number of reasons but that still does not mean that we should not become more aware of former villagers inspirational work.

Both the Heritage Society and our Museum team believe this could be an exciting project to be involved with and have already started tentative research, but we would really like more help either to take the lead or to work with the key players in both groups to take this forward. Would you like to become involved? Or maybe you know of someone who you think we ought to be considering? If so, do get in touch with the Society.