Manchester Hill Challenge
Blue Plaques
A programme of commemorative Blue plaques was started to identify and celebrate buildings and locations associated with famous people, places and historic or important events in the city. Blue plaques have been put onto buildings where notable people of the past have lived or worked. You may have seen them on buildings in your local area.
Imagine you were asked to select someone from the 16th Battalion Manchester Regiment who fought at Manchester Hill for a Blue plaque :
- Can you find out more about them?
- Can you find details of how they earned their award?
- Where would you place the Blue plaque and what details would it have on it?
- Can you now design and draw your plaque?
How do I do this?:
Choose one of these men:
- Captain Edward Neville Ashe MC. Only Son of Mr and Mrs Edward Ashe, of “The Coppice” Hale, Cheshire . 8th (Ardwick) Battalion attached 16th Battalion. Officer Commanding A Company.
- Lieutenant Colonel Wilfrith Elstob VC, DSO, MC. Son of the Reverend Canon John and Frances Alice Elstob of, “Fanshawe”, Chelford, Cheshire. Commanding Officer, 16th Battalion.
- Captain and Adjutant Norman Sharples. Son of William and Margaret Ann Sharples, of 7, Palatine Avenue, Withington, Manchester. Adjutant, 16th Battalion
- Pte 11543 Tom Fitton (MM)- 298 Bury New Rd, Whitefield, Manchester
- L/Sgt 40861 Frank Snowdin(DCM) 87 Moorgate, Retford, Notts
- Pte 29617 William Thompson (MM) 4 Nova Scotia St, Failsworth, Manchester
- Sgt 6630 Archer Hoye, 214 Radnor St Hulme, Manchester
Can you find out further information about the person you have chosen by looking at military records, census enumerations or from information found in old newspapers? Think about other places that you might find information ?
Can you learn more about Blue plaques? How big are they? What do they look like? What information has been put onto them? Will your blue plaque look like these or will you create a new design?
Suggested places to find information about the soldiers:
- Consult books and internet sources
- Manchester Hill resources on this website
- http://www.cwgc.org
- https://livesofthefirstworldwar.org/community/5192
Suggested useful websites:
http://www.trafford.gov.uk/residents/leisure-and-lifestyle/libraries/blue-plaques-in-altrincham.aspx
http://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/500004/events_and_tourism/1436/commemorative_plaques
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_plaque
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/blue-plaques/about-blue-plaques/
http://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/500004/events_and_tourism/1436/commemorative_plaques/2
http://www.peterloomassacre.org/blue-plaque.html
http://openplaques.org/people/a-z/a
http://www.trafford.gov.uk/residents/leisure-and-lifestyle/libraries/blue-plaques-in-altrincham.aspx