Have your say on the 10 people short-listed for blue plaques in Bishop’s Stortford

The great and the good of Bishop’s Stortford in bygone days are under the spotlight as the town’s history society launches its blue plaque consultation.

The group, in partnership with the town council, museum and Bishop’s Stortford Civic Federation, wants to place 10 of the heritage signs at locations associated with notable residents.

A short list of 10 names has been drawn up, but the organisers are keen for residents to give their views and nominate additions.

The personalities in line for a blue plaque are:

• Francis Barber (c.1742-1801) – former slave, valet, secretary to writer Samuel Johnson and schoolmaster

• Sir Walter Gilbey (1831-1914) – wine and spirit merchant, horse breeder and philanthropist

• Mrs Tresham Gilbey (1865-1941) – appointed a magistrate in 1920 (one of the first such women in England), benefactor and active in local societies

• George Edward Pritchett (1824-1912) – noted architect, antiquarian and electrical engineer

• Baron Thomas Dimsdale (1712-1800) – eminent physician, inoculator, banker and politician

• John Laybank Glasscock Jr (1852-1929) – historian, builder and architect

• Sir George Jackson (1725-1822) – creator and owner of the Stort Navigation

• Joseph Dorrington Day (1858-1937) – builder, brickmaker and monumental mason

• Daisy Day (1888-1983) – “The Cecil Beaton of Bishop’s Stortford”

• Elsie May Barrett (1888-1947) – the first woman elected as a councillor in Bishop’s Stortford and the first female chair of the old urban district council. She replaced the Rev Francis Rhodes, who created the two parishes of All Saints and Holy Trinity and was the father of colonialist Cecil Rhodes, on the preliminary list.

The society aims to install five plaques this year and five more in 2026 after securing a £3,000 grant from the Brazier Trust, which is administered by the town council. The society and the civic federation are each contributing £500.

Chair Tim Howard-Smith said the project was a key part of the society’s 70th anniversary celebrations this year.

He said: “Together with the town council, museum and civic federation, we have formed a project committee under the leadership of Rob Francis to oversee the selection process, design and erection of 10 blue plaques to honour notable people who have had an association with the town.

“The committee has agreed on a provisional list of 10 candidates and we have now reached the consultation stage with the public. We are asking the public for their preferences and whether there are any candidates they might like to see honoured.”

The consultation will end on March 31. For more detailed biographies of the candidates and to download a voting form, see Blue Plaques Project – Bishop’s Stortford History Society. New nominees should have been dead for at least 20 years.