English Heritage aims to install 12 plaques a year and, since 1984, they have all been made by the Ashworth family – comprising husband-and-wife team Frank and Sue and their son Justin – from their Cornwall workshop. Their company, aptly called London Plaques, has created over 200 blue plaques celebrating such figures as John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix and Alfred Hitchcock.
For those interested in finding out more about their process we heartily recommend a beguiling short film from Huck magazine that captures the family discussing their life making together. Our favourite scene shows Sue leaning over her son as he works, explaining emphatically but tenderly (as only a mother can) exactly where he is going wrong. ‘If you’re working with family it’s the nature of the beast that you’re going to have criticism or interference,’ he concludes.