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How our Commemorative Plaques Scheme works

A woman and two men stand around a commemorative plaque at the bottom of a driveway. The plaque includes the name Dudley D Watkins, and the woman holds a picture of Oor Wullie.

Overview

Our Commemorative Plaque Scheme celebrates significant people by erecting plaques on the buildings where they lived or worked.

The scheme celebrates the link between person and building and emphasises the social and human element of local architecture.

A building can say a great deal about the character of the person who inhabited it. It can confirm assumptions or come as a complete surprise, casting a new light on the person concerned.

Anyone whose life and achievements have made a significant difference to Scotland and its people will be considered for the scheme. We also include people who have gained international recognition for their impact and accomplishments.

Nomination criteria

Any nomination for the Commemorative Plaque Scheme must meet the following criteria.

The nominee:

  • must have been dead for at least 20 years

  • must have been born more than 100 years ago

  • should be significantly associated with a surviving building

The nomination process:

  • the name of the person being nominated for a plaque

  • the address of the building where the plaque is proposed

  • details of the reasoning behind the request

  • appropriate background information

  • permission from the property’s present owner

It is crucial that the applicant seeks permission for the siting of a plaque from the building’s owner before submitting a nomination.

Where buildings have been radically altered or demolished, we consider the relationship between person and building to have been broken. We may, however, consider another building or site that has a distinct link to the nominee in exceptional circumstances.

An independent panel assesses all nominations. Successful nominations will be announced publicly before the plaque’s installation.

Studio photograph of a Historic Scotland commemorative plaque, shown at a slight angle against a dark gradient background. The rectangular plaque features a textured dark centre with a light border and vertical Celtic knot designs on both sides, and a raised Scottish saltire symbol at the top. The inscription reads: “John Logie Baird (1888–1946), inventor of television, conducted his early experiments here.”

Proposing a plaque

*The scheme is currently paused

The Commemorative Plaque Scheme celebrates the link between person and building and emphasises the social and human element of local architecture.

If you’d like to propose a plaque, you should first make certain the subject is eligible for consideration. 

All nominations will be considered by an independent assessment panel and the successful nominations will be announced publicly, prior to then making arrangements for the installation of plaque.

Contact

If you have any questions about nominating a plaque, please get in touch via email: plaques@hes.scot.

Installed plaques

We have installed more than 60 commemorative plaques all over Scotland, celebrating the likes of inventor John Logie Baird, suffragist Mary Burton, author and anti-slavery activist Frederick Douglass, scientist Mary Somerville, and many more.

Find out who has been recognised so far and where you can find their plaques.

Explore the recipients