Joseph Whitaker Blue plaque

Amidst the bustling streets of Enfield, we find ourselves before a unique piece of history: the Joseph Whitaker Blue Plaque. This isn’t your typical blue plaque. It’s made of enamelled steel, a distinctive feature necessitated by the weatherboarded exterior of White Lodge. Joseph Whitaker, the man commemorated here at 68 Silver Street, was a remarkable figure. The Joseph Whitaker Blue Plaque marks the very spot where he lived and died. He resided at White Lodge from 1862 until his passing in 1895. Whitaker is best known as the founder of the indispensable Whitaker’s Almanack, a publication that became a cornerstone of British life. This almanac, a treasure trove of facts and figures, continues to be published to this day. The Joseph Whitaker Blue Plaque, erected in 1998 by English Heritage, stands as a testament to his enduring legacy. The plaque itself is a bit of an anomaly. While the London County Council and Greater London Council had used enamelled steel for plaques before, English Heritage rarely did. The Joseph Whitaker Blue Plaque and the one commemorating Percy Bysshe Shelley seem to be the only examples by English Heritage. So, as you stand before the Joseph Whitaker Blue Plaque, remember the man behind the almanac. He wasn’t just a publisher; he was a chronicler of his time, and his legacy lives on in the pages of his enduring creation.