Pobel a Gernow Plaques Criteria and Terms and Conditions

All nominations must meet the basic selection criteria outlined below: 

General Criteria

1. Nominations will only be accepted by completion and submission of the online form, available on the CHT website
2. Applicants (individuals or organisations) are restricted to one nomination for a plaque per year
3. Only one plaque will be erected per nominee
   – If a plaque already exists (in whatever form) commemorating the nominee or is in the process of being agreed an application for another one will not be considered
   – If a person is already commemorated with a statue or memorial (in whatever form) they will not be eligible for a plaque
   – Applications for replacement of existing plaques will only be considered in exceptional circumstances
4. The partner organisations reserve the right to determine priorities among nominations on the basis of expert advice provided by the Judging Panel
5. The decision of the Judging Panel is final

Nomination Criteria

1. Nominations will only be accepted for a person who has been dead for more than twenty years at the time of the nomination
   – Nominees must have a demonstrable connection to Cornwall and the building or site (if the original building no longer survives) with which they are being associated
   – Their association with Cornwall must have been for a sustained period and/or have taken place during the period for which they are being recognised. Any period of less than five years will require further justification
2. A nominee must have:
   – Made an outstanding contribution to Cornwall or
   – Been of significant public standing in a Cornish, British or international context or
   – Been outstanding in their field and be considered as such by others or
   – Made a positive and sustained impact on human welfare or happiness
3. Proposals will be considered for a plaque to commemorate more than one person as long as they have been significant in their own right and fulfil each of the criteria in this document. To share a plaque they must be associated with the nominated building and be known for their link to each other
4. All nominees will be considered fairly, with the aim to ensure a diverse, inclusive and balanced representation of Cornish history
5. Nominations for fictional characters or animals will not be considered

Building Criteria

1. The building with which the nominee is associated should still be recognisable as it would have been during the time of their association. If it has been demolished and rebuilt, however, this may be considered
2. The plaque must be easily visible from the public highway
3. A plaque will not be erected on a building which already contains a plaque(s) to commemorate other past occupants or where there was only a fleeting association. Plaques shall not be erected to commemorate short term associations with educational or ecclesiastical buildings, military establishments, hospitals, hotels, private clubs, Inns of Court or royal palaces – or on any other building that is associated with so many well-known figures as to make the selection of an individual for commemoration inappropriate or invidious.
4. If the plaque is for a person’s home, it must have been their residence for a significant period in relation to their life and/or work. Any period amounting to less than five years will require particular justification

Please note – Nominations for commemorating buildings in their own right will not be considered at this time

Terms of the Scheme

• The partner organisations manage the scheme and reserve the right to determine priorities and amend the terms of the scheme if necessary as circumstances change
• The decision of the Judging Panel is final
  – Brief feedback on unsuccessful nominations will be provided but there is no appeals process
• The design and wording of each plaque (a maximum of 17 words) is defined by the Judging Panel
• Details of the plaque, its location and more information about the person commemorated will be added to the online database managed by CHT and available for all to view 

Contact Details

The plaque scheme is administered by Cornwall Heritage Trust.

Any queries should be submitted by email to info@cornwallheritagetrust.org

The Pobel a Gernow Plaques Scheme is a collaboration between…