Wolverhampton's Blue Plaques

 Queen Square, Victoria Street & the Mander Centre
Commemorating:

Thomas Henry Fleeming who designed the Barclays Bank building in Queen Square.

Sponsored by:

Barclays Bank P.L.C.

Location:

Queen Square. On the corner of Lichfield Street and Lich Gates.

The building was built in two stages. The rear half facing St. Peters was built first, the original  entrance being where the cash machine in Lich Gates now stands. The front half was built a little later when Lichfield Street was widened, and replaced a fine 17th century town house which was owned by John Gholditch, who was a wine merchant. The two halves of the building are built in the same Gothic style, using the same stone and so its not obvious that the rear part was once a separate building.

 

The bank's main entrance in Queen Square with the plaque just to the left.
Commemorating:
J. A. Chatwin who designed Lloyds Bank.

Sponsored by:
Lloyds Bank P.L.C.

Location:
Queen Square, at its junction with Dudley Street.
This side of Queen Square was rebuilt in the late 1870's and early 1880's, at the same time as the widening and redevelopment of Lichfield Street. Birmingham architect, J. A. Chatwin also designed the Art Gallery in Lichfield Street. Both buildings are in an Italianate style.
Commemorating:
Queen Victoria's visit to Queen Square in 1866.

Sponsored by:
The Express & Star.

Location:
On the west side of the HSBC Bank in Queen Square.
Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, died in 1861. The people of Wolverhampton led by Alderman Underhill raised the money to erect a statue in his honour. The statue in Queen Square cost £1,150 and was sculpted by Thomas Thorneycroft. The statue was completed in 1866, and the Queen agreed to come in person for the unveiling, which took place on November 30th 1866. It was an important day for the town. A public holiday was declared and large numbers of people gathered to see the Royal party as they toured the town centre. Activities included illuminations and a spectacular firework display at the racecourse.
Commemorating:

James Beattie who founded the Victoria Drapery in 1877.

Sponsored by:

James Beattie P.L.C.

Location:

Victoria Street, on the front of the store..

 
Beatties, the well known department store in the city, started life in 1877 as a small drapers shop in Victoria Street, called the 'Victoria Drapery Supply Stores'.  It was founded by James Beattie who started with a capital of just £300 and employed two assistants.

By 1895 he had an annual turnover of £30,000 and had a staff of forty. The original premises on the eastern side of Victoria Street was badly damaged by fire in 1896, which led to the relocation and expansion of the business on the opposite side of the street. As the business prospered, adjacent premises were purchased and the store grew in size. James Beattie died in 1934. 
 

Commemorating:

The Star & Garter coaching Inn.

Sponsored by:

Frank Mason

Location:

Victoria Street, on the front of Pizza-Hut.
The Star & Garter was the town's main hotel. It occupied the site of a house in which King Charles I sheltered during the Civil War, and from this the hotel was named. The hotel was built in about 1815 and extensively modified in 1836. The building was demolished in the late 1960's to make way for the Mander Centre.

The Star & Garter in the early 1960's. Photo courtesy of Eardley Lewis.

A poster advertising some of the many coach services that called at the Inn.

Commemorating:

Benjamin Mander

Sponsored by:

Mander Property (Wolverhampton) Ltd

Location:

Mander Centre. In the middle by the lifts.

 
In 1773 Benjamin Mander and his brother John, founded Mander's  works in St. John's Street. Benjamin was a japanner, and the company produced paint and varnish for decorating their products. The company went from strength to strength and eventually closed the japanning side of the business to concentrate on paints and varnish. The company eventually became one of the largest printing ink manufacturers. The St John's Street premises closed in 1965.