#blueplaque — Public Fediverse posts

Unknown Photographer Who Took First Royal Portrait Honored With Blue Plaque https://petapixel.com/2026/05/29/unknown-photographer-who-took-first-royal-portrait-honored-with-blue-plaque/ #historicalfriday #daguerreotype #louisdaguerre #unitedkingdom #blueplaque #brighton #Analog #News

La English Heritage onora con una targa blu la #fotografa vittoriana Julia Margaret Cameron

https://petapixel.com/2026/05/12/influential-victorian-photographer-julia-margaret-cameron-honored-with-blue-plaque-at-london-home/

#photography #BluePlaque #JuliaMargaretCameron #storia

Influential Victorian Photographer Julia Margaret Cameron Honored With Blue Plaque at London Home https://petapixel.com/2026/05/12/influential-victorian-photographer-julia-margaret-cameron-honored-with-blue-plaque-at-london-home/ #victorianphotographer #victorianphotography #juliamargetcameron #blueplaque #Culture #london #News

NEATH LEGEND: Hollywood’s first Welsh Oscar winner honoured with blue plaque at childhood home

The tribute was unveiled at the house on Dalton Road where the legendary actor lived from the age of four.

Milland, who was born Alfred Reginald Jones in 1907, remains a titan of the silver screen and was once Paramount’s highest-paid star.

The installation follows a special exhibition at Melincryddan Community Hall on Friday, March 6, which brought together relatives, fans, and local dignitaries.

Organised by the Neath Antiquarian Society, the event marked the 80th anniversary of Milland’s historic Academy Award win for his role in The Lost Weekend.

He was the first Welsh actor to ever scoop an Oscar, a feat that cemented his place in cinematic history alongside greats like Grace Kelly and John Wayne.

The plaque was successfully nominated by the Neath Antiquarian Society through Neath Port Talbot Council’s Blue Plaque Scheme.

It serves as a permanent reminder of a man who told the world he was from Neath, even at the height of his global fame.

Jonathan Davies, Chair of the Neath Antiquarian Society, hailed Milland’s “varied and lasting” career which spanned more than 55 years.

“From romantic leads to comedy, horror, Broadway Theatre and his own TV shows, I don’t think there are many other careers in Hollywood that have been as varied or lasted as long,” he said.

“Over the course of 55 years, he won everything; Oscar, Grammy, Cannes Film Festival, the lot.”

The actor’s incredible journey saw him serve in the Royal Horse Guards before a chance meeting with an American actress convinced him to try his hand at acting.

His 1929 debut in The Flying Scotsman led to a contract with MGM and a move to Hollywood that would change his life forever.

Milland went on to star in classics such as Alfred Hitchcock’s Dial M for Murder and the terrifying spy thriller Ministry of Fear.

Despite his stardom, he never forgot his roots, famously being “lionised” in Cardiff in 1946 and touring Neath by car during a visit in 1947.

Councillor Cen Phillips, Cabinet Member for Nature, Tourism and Wellbeing for Neath Port Talbot Council, said the plaque celebrates a key part of the area’s “incredible cultural legacy.”

The ceremony was attended by Milland’s relatives and local residents, including the current tenant of the house on Dalton Road.

Funding for the 2026 Commemorative Blue Plaque window will open from April 1 to September 30 for new nominations.

The scheme is part of the council’s wider Heritage Strategy, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund to restore and celebrate local history.

Neath honours Oscar winner, Archdruid and Iron Industry pioneer with Blue Plaques

The council has approved commemorations for Oscar‑winning actor Ray Milland, Archdruid Dafydd Helsin Rowlands, and David Thomas — dubbed the “Father of the American Iron Industry.”

Ray Milland: Neath’s Hollywood star

Born in Dalton Street, Neath, Milland became the first Welsh actor to win an Oscar in 1946 for The Lost Weekend. He also scooped the Cannes Film Festival award the same year — a double first.

His career spanned more than 50 years, starring alongside Hollywood greats and appearing in TV hits like Columbo, Hart to Hart and Battlestar Galactica. Milland died in 1986 aged 79, but his legacy lives on with two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

David Thomas: Swansea Valley innovator

Educated in Alltwen near Pontardawe, Thomas revolutionised iron production with a method to smelt anthracite in blast furnaces. His breakthrough transformed industry in the Swansea Valley and later across America.

In 2023, he was immortalised in the American Iron and Steel Hall of Fame. His plaque will be funded by Cilybebyll Community Council.

Dafydd Helsin Rowlands: Archdruid of Wales

Pontardawe‑born Rowlands was a literary powerhouse, winning both the Crown and Prose Medal at the 1969 Eisteddfod, and a second Crown in 1972.

He authored volumes of poetry and prose, wrote for TV, and inspired generations of Welsh writers. He served as Archdruid of Wales between 1996 and 1999.

Council hails heritage boost

Cllr Cen Phillips, Cabinet Member for Nature, Tourism and Wellbeing, said:

“The three people to be commemorated in the next series of Neath Port Talbot Blue Plaques will help raise awareness of the county borough’s rich culture, heritage, language and history.”

The plaques for Milland and Rowlands will be the first funded by Neath Port Talbot Council, while Thomas’s will be community‑funded. The scheme, launched in 2024, promises two plaques a year for the next decade, with options for businesses and individuals to self‑fund.

Already, plaques honouring Richard Burton, his mentor Phillip Burton, and Port Talbot’s oldest pub The Somerset Arms have been installed.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Blue Plaques to honour Richard and Philip Burton
Neath Port Talbot celebrates the centenary of screen legend Richard Burton with two commemorative plaques.

Blue Plaques unveiled for Richard and Philip Burton
Plaques installed in Pontrhydyfen and Taibach mark the legacy of the Burtons in Welsh arts and education.

Young poet sought to honour Richard Burton’s mentor
A creative commission invites young voices to help tell the story of Philip Burton’s influence.

Blue Plaque celebrates architect behind Swansea landmarks
Glendinning Moxham honoured for shaping the city’s skyline with a commemorative plaque in Mumbles.

Neath Port Talbot celebrates RB100: the Richard Burton Centenary
A year-long programme of events marks 100 years since the birth of the Afan Valley-born Hollywood icon.

[Faux] #BluePlaque erected at Walthamstow Tesco to commemorate #lettuce that outlasted #LizTruss

Star of Daily Star’s web stunt given fake heritage mark after proving itself less perishable than Truss’s premiership
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/oct/04/blue-plaque-erected-at-walthamstow-tesco-to-commemorate-lettuce-that-outlasted-liz-truss

Pleasant few days in #Margate for half term with my family. Nice to see the sea. Great food & drink in the town and the Tate Gallery was worth a look. Didn’t realise #KarlMarx had stayed there but verified after spotting a fairly dubious looking #BluePlaque

A punk, a monkey, a maths genius … our pick of local heroes who deserve a blue plaque
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2023/sep/10/a-punk-a-monkey-a-maths-genius-our-pick-of-local-heroes-who-deserve-a-blue-plaque?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
#BluePlaque

Back past Canton (no photos) and I hop off at #Fairwater. As I depart, I come across a #RoaldDahl #BluePlaque - there’s rich Roald heritage in this part of the world.
Enough trains for now. What’s that? 11? Good value anyway. I had my ticket checked twice. Off to dry out. Thanks for all your comments and suggestions. It’s been great to virtually meet so many of you. Until next time, keep on keeping on. /ends

#LabourHistory #BluePlaque #Histodons @histodons
“In 1908, with support from the National Federation of Women Workers, the Corruganza boxmakers blazed a trail for the rights of women workers from a factory site in Summerstown.” As Women’s History Month begins, we have a blogpost about the strike and plans to commemorate it with a blue plaque at https://sslh.org.uk/2023/03/01/box-makers-at-bay-commemorating-the-corruganza-strike-of-1908/

Pranksters erect ‘blue plaque’ commemorating Rishi Sunak’s seatbelt fine | The Independent
#Sunak
#SeatBeltGate
#SeatBelt
#SeatBeltSunak
#BluePlaque

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/rishi-sunak-seatbelt-fine-blue-plaque-b2273157.html

A senior Tory has received a blue plaque for his commitment to filth
#Tory
#ReesMogg
#BluePlaque https://www.thecanary.co/trending/2023/01/30/a-senior-tory-has-received-a-blue-plaque-for-his-commitment-to-filth/
>The Tories aren't just spiritually befouling this country; they're also defiling the environment - worthy of a satirical blue plaque

There's clearly a story here, and it's killing me not knowing it. #BluePlaque #cycling #BikeTooter @cycling @mastobikes

Nice day for a very short first walk after my op. Along the Cynon Trail to the Robertstown Tramway Bridge. #wales #sunshine #blueplaque