A rare early plaque honouring Alice in Wonderland illustrator and political cartoonist Sir John Tenniel has been conserved and reinstalled. Originally unveiled by the London County Council (LCC) in 1930 at Tenniel’s longtime Maida Vale home, the plaque – very unusually jade-green in colour, at the particular request of the householder – is a beautiful example of the early LCC “wreathed” design. After its removal following the building’s demolition in 1959, it was so damaged that its destruction was authorised but, fortunately, not carried out. It has since been in storage, but, in a first for an item of this age and condition, it has now been conserved and reinstalled at a new location: 52 Fitz-George Avenue in West Kensington, where Tenniel spent the final years of his life.

English Heritage Senior Historian Howard Spencer said:

“At nearly a hundred years old, this plaque has an extraordinary story. English Heritage has never conserved and reinstalled such a historic plaque before, so it was something of a leap of faith – but we’re delighted with the result. Seeing this fine early plaque returned to public view is a truly special moment for the Blue Plaques Scheme.”

The plaque’s renaissance is all the more remarkable given its condition before conservation. Though structurally sound, it showed clear signs of damage: scratches, splashes, fissures, and several losses to the glaze and ceramic body. Conservation specialists painstakingly cleaned the surface, removing decades-old mortar before using dry pigments and stone powders to recreate the original green glaze. Thanks to this careful work, the plaque now looks much as it would have done 96 years ago.

Sir John Tenniel (1820–1914) remains one of the most influential illustrators in British history. His illustrations for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865) and Through the Looking-Glass (1872) shaped the global visual identity of those stories. Tenniel’s original drawings are still instantly recognisable, even as this November marks 160 years since the first Alice book was published. Tenniel joins other artists and illustrators commemorated by English Heritage – including George Cruikshank and Aubrey Beardsley – but this is the first time a plaque has been retrieved, conserved, and returned to the city’s streets after such a long absence.

The English Heritage London Blue Plaques scheme is generously supported by David Pearl and members of the public.