The blue plaques in Lewisham and the people behind them

We’ve covered the blue plaques in Greenwich and Bromley and now we’re looking at all the blue plaques you can find in Lewisham.

Lewisham has been home to some of UK’s pioneers in politics, science, exploration and the arts and we’ve listed them all below and a little bit about them.

James Elroy Flecker (1884-1915)

James Elroy Flecker was a London-born poet, who first entered the literary scene with the publication of The Bridge of Fire in 1907.

Later, the young poet became closely associated with the Georgian school of Poetry, and was heavily inspired by his time spent in the Mediterranean and Middle East.

A plaque was erected in 1986 outside the house the poet was born in at 9 Gilmore Road in Lee.

James Glaisher (1809-1903)

James Glashier was an astronomer and meteorologist who formerly lived in Blackheath.

Born in Rotherhithe, Glaisher had a long career in meteorology, beginning his career as Assistant for the Ordnance Survey of Ireland.

Later on in his career Glaisher worked to produce a series of daily weather maps, with the first published at the Great Exhibition at Crystal Palace in 1851.

A blue plaque was erected in 1974 at 20 Dartmouth Hill, the former home of the meteorologist.

Sir George Grove (1820-1900)

Sir George Grove was a writer with a keen interest and knowledge in music.

One of the biggest achievements of the Sydenham-based writer was the publication of a Dictionary of Music and Musicians between the years of 1878 and 1889.

A plaque was erected in 2016 outside his former Sydenham home at 14 Westwood Hill.

Horniman Museum & Frederick John Horniman (1835-1906)

A blue plaque outside the Horniman Museum and Gardens commemorates its former owner Frederick John Horniman.

Frederick was born into a wealthy family who owned the tea company known as Horniman and Co.

After spending years collecting items and artefacts, Frederick eventually commissioned architect Charles Harrison Townsend to build what is now the Horniman Museum and Gardens, which first opened in 1901.

The museum still stands today, housing a large collection of natural history, specimens and other artefacts from around the globe.

Eleanor Marx (1855-1898)

Eleanor Marx was an important figure who played a significant role in social reform, particularly for the working class and women’s emancipation.

She campaigned for the rights of female and Jewish workers from 1889 onwards after growing up in a very political setting in London.

She campaigned for the eight-hour work day and helped women organise their own branches during the dockers’ strikes of 1889.

A blue plaque was erected in 2008 to the philanthropist at 7 Jews Walk in Sydenham, where Eleanor Marx once lived.

Sir James Clark Ross (1800-1862)

Sir James Clark Ross, who formerly lived in Blackheath, was an explorer and naval officer carrying out important magnetic surveys in the Arctic and Antarctic.

Sir James was also responsible for discovering the Ross Sea and the Victoria Land region of Antarctica in 1841.

A blue plaque was erected outsider his former Blackheath home at 2 Eliot Place in 1960.

Sir Ernest Shackleton (1874-1922)

Famed Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton formerly lived in Sydenham for 30 years and was educated at Dulwich College.

Sir Ernest first began his exploration career in 1901, when he boarded the Discovery on a voyage to the Antarctic, and covered a distance that brought him within 400 miles of the South Pole.

Sir Ernest led a number of Antarctic expeditions around the globe before passing away in 1922 on his final expedition.

A blue plaque was erected outside his former home at 12 Westwood Hill in 1928.

Samuel Smiles (1812-1904)

Samuel Smiles was an author and reformer who formerly lived in Granville Park in Lewisham.

He was best known for his books promoting self-progression an forward thinking.

He published a number of books throghout the course of his writing career, with his best-known work called Self-Help in 1859.

A blue plaque was erected outside his former home at 11 Granville Park in 1959.

John Tallis (1816-1876)

John Tallis was a cartographic publisher with his company John Tallis & Company, which published a number of maps and atlases from 1838 until 1851.

The former publicist lived at 233 New Cross Road, which is marked by a blue plaque erected in 1978.

Sir Stanley Unwin (1884-1968)

Sir Stanley Unwin was a former publisher who published J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, after the manuscript received high praise from Sir Stanley’s son, and later went on to publish the bestselling title Lord of the Rings.

Unwin publsiehd a number of other works with his publishing company including Thor Heyerdahl's The Kon-Tiki Expedition.

A blue plaque was erected outside his former home at 13 Handen Road in Lee in 1984.

Edgar Wallace (1875-1932)

Edgar Wallace was a writer who became famous for pioneering the modern “thriller” genre as we know it.

Over the course of his writing career he published a number of books including Sanders of the River (1911) and The Terror (1930).

In total the author wrote 175 books and 15 plays, along with many articles and reviews.

A blue plaque was erected outside his former home at 6 Tressillian Crescent in Lewisham in 1960.

Walter Maunder (1851–1928) & Annie Maunder (1868–1947)

Walter Maunder and Annie Maunder were well-known astronomers, best known for their work in solar astronomy, encouragement of amateur astronomy, and their support for women’s involvement in astronomy.

A blue plaque was erected outside 9 Tyrwhitt Road in Brockley last year in 2022.