Menu

  • Home
  • Gallery
  • Stories
  • What's on
  • Directory
    • Overview
    • Supporting craft businesses
    • Opportunities
    • Join the directory
    • Craft business resources
    • Crafting Business programme for makers
    • Brexit advice
    • Overview
    • How we work
    • Get making
    • Craft careers
    • Education
    • Craft education pledge
    • Participation
    • Young Craft Citizens
  • Crafts magazine
    • Overview
    • About the collections
    • How to hire and borrow
    • Exhibitions
  • Collect art fair
    • Overview
    • Our work
    • Our team
    • Governance
    • Working here
    • History
    • Contact us
    • Research and policy
    • Diversity and inclusion
    • Craft UK
    • Press
    • Overview
    • Appeals and projects
    • Patrons
    • A gift in your will
    • Corporate partnerships
    • Our supporters and partners

Quick Links

  • Opportunities
Home
Login
Crafts CouncilStories

Meet the family that makes London's blue plaques


ByCrafts magazine

10 February 2016

A film takes you inside the Cornwall workshop of London Plaques, which has made ceramic tributes to everyone from Jimi Hendrix to Alfred Hitchcock


Crafts magazine

10 February 2016

  • Ceramics
  • Crafts magazine
  • Architecture

Still from Family Business: The Secret Recipe of the Blue Plaques by Huck

London’s famous Blue Plaques celebrate their 150th anniversary this year. According to English Heritage, which took over running the scheme in 1986, they ‘celebrate the architecture of London’s streets and the diversity and achievements of its past residents’.

The idea was first proposed in 1863 in the House of Commons by William Ewart and was later backed by the Society of Arts (later the Royal Society of Arts). The earliest plaques were made by Minton, Hollins & Co. However, the blue ceramic that has become so familiar wasn’t used as standard until 1921 – before then they had also been made from bronze, stone and lead. In 1938 an unnamed student at Central School of Arts and Crafts came up with the modern design.


Still from Family Business: The Secret Recipe of the Blue Plaques

English Heritage aims to install 12 plaques a year and, since 1984, they have all been made by the Ashworth family – comprising husband-and-wife team Frank and Sue and their son Justin – from their Cornwall workshop. Their company, aptly called London Plaques, has created over 200 blue plaques celebrating such figures as John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix and Alfred Hitchcock.

For those interested in finding out more about their process we heartily recommend a beguiling short film from Huck magazine that captures the family discussing their life making together. Our favourite scene shows Sue leaning over her son as he works, explaining emphatically but tenderly (as only a mother can) exactly where he is going wrong. ‘If you’re working with family it’s the nature of the beast that you’re going to have criticism or interference,’ he concludes.


This article first appeared in Crafts magazine

Subscribe for more unexpected craft stories

Share

  • Facebook 
  • Twitter 
  • Whatsapp 
  • Email 
  • Pinterest 
  • ...

Read more

  • Craft careers

    How to become a ceramicist

    • Ceramics
    • Craft careers
  • Stories

    How plays get made: backstage at the National Theatre

    • Theatre
    • Millinery
  • Craft careers

    How to become a casting technician

    • Jewellery
    • Craft careers

Stay informed and inspired

Select an option to receive a newsletter

Follow us

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest

Crafts Council
44a Pentonville Road
London N1 9BY

reception@craftscouncil.org.uk
+44 (0)20 7806 2500

Reg. charity no. 280956

  • Our work
  • Our team
  • Privacy policy