The first commemorative blue plaques in Maldon were officially unveiled this week on four buildings in the town centre.
The plaques have been put in place in a joint effort by Maldon Society and Maldon District Council conservation officer, Robert Scrimgeour, to celebrate famous people or sites in Market Hill and the High Street.
The official unveiling by Maldon Mayor, Cllr Peter Roberts, started outside the first site at 3 Hillside, Market Hill, which served as Maldon's Workhouse between 1719 and 1835, and following an extension became the union workhouse until 1873.
The United Reformed Church in Market Hill also received a plaque to honour the Reverend Joseph Billio, whose preaching at the site in 1696 led to the phrase 'like Billio'.
A plaque in the High Street celebrates Church House, former home of the fat man of Maldon, 42-stone Edward Bright, who lived at what was until recently Maldon Bookshop between 1721 and 1750.
Another plaque at 21 High Street, now home to Cook's Travel agents, is at the former ground of Moot Hall before its courts and meeting rooms were transferred to D'Arcy Tower, the present day Moot Hall, in 1576.
Margaret Day, chairman of the Maldon Society, said: "The event went very well. The sites were chosen by Maldon Society Committee in consultation with Maldon District Council. We had to apply for planning permission from the council and for permission from the business owners. It has taken us 18 months to do this."
The plaques, made by Matt Grant from Chelmsford, cost around £1,400 and money came from a district council grant and from the Maldon Society.
Speaking at the unveiling, council chairman, Cllr Penny Channer, said: "The aims of the scheme are to support and promote the heritage of the district - we hope to extend the scheme to Burnham and I look forward to seeing many additions to the blue plaque collections of both Maldon and Burnham."
The council has invited building owners, public authorities and groups to apply for grants for blue plaques.
Published Thursday, May 1, 2003
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