Where has the blue plaque gone on Lower High Street?
SPECULATION has been swirling on social media after eagle-eyed historians noticed the blue plaque dedicated to a renowned Stourbridge ironmaster is currently missing.
A plaque dedicated to James Foster, who manufactured the Stourbridge Lion Locomotive – the very first railroad steam locomotive to be operated in the United States – has been adorning the wall of his old house on Lower High Street, a building now home to several offices.
However, questions have been arising over the past few days after the space where the plaque sits was spotted empty.
James Foster used to live on Lower High Street (Image: Google Earth) Despite fears the plaque had been removed or, at worst, stolen, one of the businesses in the building has confirmed the plaque has only temporarily been removed while decoration works are carried out to the building's exterior.
Janice Chatham from NPP Neuro Group said: 'We're carry out some decorating work outside, and we noticed that one of the screws holding up the plaque had completely corroded.
'While the work is carried out, we've taken the plaque down and, for the time being, covered the space with a sign directing people to the building's disabled access.
'This is only temporary, and the plaque will be put up again as soon as possible, as well as a permanent disabled access sign too.
'It's nice to know that so many people care about our local history and notice the plaque when they walk past.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
7 days ago
- Newsweek
Footage Shows Chinese Ships Near US Ally's Disputed Island Base
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Philippines has released footage showing Chinese maritime forces operating near its largest outpost in the South China Sea's disputed Spratly Islands archipelago. Newsweek has contacted the Chinese Foreign Ministry and Philippine military for comment via written requests. Why It Matters China claims sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, citing "historical rights," which puts it at odds with the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan and Indonesia. In 2016, an arbitral tribunal in the Hague dismissed the sweeping claims featured in China's "nine-dashed line" map as incompatible with maritime law. Beijing rejected the decision. The Philippines has mounted a stiff challenge to expanding Chinese activities in its exclusive economic zone. The resulting standoffs between Chinese and Philippine government vessels have raised concerns that Manila's Mutual Defense Treaty with Washington could pull the U.S. into a conflict with its East Asian rival. WATCH: A China Coast Guard ship, several Chinese maritime militia vessels, and a PLA Navy warship seen from Pag-asa Island. | via Patrick de Jesus — PTVph (@PTVph) June 3, 2025 What To Know On Wednesday, the People's Television Network, a Philippine state-owned broadcaster, released footage showing Chinese vessels operating off the coast of Thitu Island, well within the 12-nautical-mile (13.8-mile) territorial sea claimed by Manila. The ships included a Chinese coast guard cutter, a People's Liberation Army Navy warship and what appeared to be two vessels from China's so-called Maritime Militia. The agency did not specify when the footage was taken. Administered by the Philippines since 1971, Thitu is the largest of the Spratly Islands under the country's control and hosts a small permanent population. This photograph captured by Airbus in June 2023 and provided by Google Earth shows the Philippine-control Thitu Island in the South China Sea's contested Spratly Islands archipelago. This photograph captured by Airbus in June 2023 and provided by Google Earth shows the Philippine-control Thitu Island in the South China Sea's contested Spratly Islands archipelago. Google Earth/Airbus The island is also home to a small coast guard station, military garrison and airstrip, modest yet vital assets for maintaining Manila's force posture in the area. This is especially necessary given the proximity of China's more heavily militarized artificial islands. The waters around Thitu, and a nearby cluster of sandbars known as Sandy Cay, have at times become a flashpoint in the South China Sea dispute. In late May, Manila released video showing a Chinese coast guard ship using a water cannon against a Philippine fisheries bureau vessel. The Chinese ship also "sideswiped" the smaller craft and damaged its bow, according to Philippine authorities. What People Are Saying Major General Meng Xiangqing, a professor at China's National Defense University of the People's Liberation Army, said on Sunday at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore: "It must be pointed out that the Philippines has always been the provocateur and China's actions have been legitimate responses. Here, I solemnly warn the Philippine side: The South China Sea is not a place where the Philippines can act recklessly." Gilberto Teodoro, the Philippine secretary of defense, told Newsweek on Sunday: "Unfortunately, they [China] are the cause of instability here. Nobody denies it. Nobody supports their nine-dash line here, and I made that clear in my condemnation—and a lot of people condemn their behavior because no right-minded person would agree with what they're doing here in the South China Sea." What Happens Next The Philippines is expanding infrastructure on Thitu Island, including a recently completed extension of its airstrip to 1.5 kilometers (0.93 miles)—long enough to accommodate light transport aircraft and some fighter jets. A sheltered port is also in the works, which would enhance the operational range of Philippine maritime forces in surrounding waters.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Yahoo
The mysterious hill in Sudan that looks like 'landlocked lips'
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. QUICK FACTS Where is it? West Darfur, Sudan [12.370771816, 23.322227802] What's in the photo? A hill shaped like human lips Where did the photo originate? Google Earth When was it taken? 2012 This intriguing satellite photo, captured by Google Earth satellites in 2012, shows a strange hill formation in Sudan that bears a striking resemblance to pursed human lips blowing a kiss into space. Not much is known about the bizarre structure, but experts told Live Science how it likely formed. The striking hill, which is around 3,000 feet (900 meters) long and 1,200 feet (350 m) across at its widest point, is located in Sudan's West Darfur state, roughly 60 miles (95 km) east of the country's border with Chad. The feature appears to be surrounded by agricultural fields and small black dots that are probably trees. In the 2012 photo, the surrounding ground has been dried out by drought, and the hill's slopes have a pinkish hue, accentuating its mouth-like look. But in more recent imagery, both the hill and its surroundings look green and are covered with significantly more vegetation (see below). The hill's elevation and age are unknown. The structure does not have an official name, but it is labeled as "Landlocked lips" campground on Google Maps (although it is unclear if there is actually a campsite there). Related: See all the best images of Earth from space However, based on the available satellite imagery, experts do have a general idea of how the hill may have formed. "I see a narrow unit of exposed rock running down the middle of this feature," Josh Roering, a geomorphologist at the University of Oregon who specializes in landscape dynamics, told Live Science in an email. "It looks like there's a dike or narrow unit of resistant rock running through the middle of that ridgeline that erodes more slowly than the surrounding rock and thus sticks out." Dikes are geological features that bisect larger horizontal sheets of rock, according to the European Geosciences Union. They are most commonly formed via volcanic activity or tectonic plate movements, but they can also emerge from sedimentary processes. However, it is unclear what type of dike this hill's central line may be. MORE EARTH FROM SPACE —A mysterious 'black hole' in Pacific Ocean that sparked wild rumors online —'Shining anus' volcano in Tonga coughs up cloud of smoke during recent eruption —The heart-shaped 'Spirit Lake' sculpted by Mount St. Helens' epic eruption "If correct, the shape and extent of that resistant rock unit thus sets the scale of the feature as the less resistant surrounding rock forms sloping terrain on either side," Roering said. Similar structures can be found in the New Mexico desert and the Mackenzie dike swarm in Yukon, Canada. However, without being able to study the formation up close, Roering said this is just "speculation."
New York Post
04-06-2025
- New York Post
This peculiar European island swaps nationalities every six months
A tiny European island nestled between northern Spain and southern France oddly flips nationalities every six months due to a unique three-century-old treaty struck between the two countries. Pheasant Island, an uninhabited 660-foot-long spot in the Bidasoa River, bounces back and forth between the Spanish city of Irun and the French town of Hendaye, according to the area's tourism website. The twice-yearly handover, marked by a formal military parade, stems from the Treaty of the Pyrenees. 3 Aerial view of Pheasant Island, located on the Bidasoa River, showing the border between France and Spain. Google Earth The unusual agreement, signed on Nov. 7, 1659, ended the Franco-Spanish War and established the desolate island as a border between the two nations — effectively placing the sliver of territory under Spanish control from Feb. 1 to July 31, and under French governance from Aug. 1 to Jan. 31. 'When the wars between France and Spain ended, they kept the island as a neutral space,' said Sylvie Salaberria-Mercier, a Hendaye tourism official, according to The Telegraph. 'It's a small island, but a reminder of the past. A reminder of the wars and a reminder of peace.' A monolith — engraved with a commemorative inscription detailing the island's historic role — was erected at the center of the pint-sized parcel to honor the spirit and cooperation between the two countries. The twice-yearly flag-swapping ceremony now takes place around the prized stone marker. 3 Panoramic view of Irun and Hendaye, towns on the Spain-France border. dudlajzov – 3 The twice-yearly handover, marked by a formal military parade, stems from the Treaty of the Pyrenees. Google Earth The island, known as the world's smallest condominium, or place with two rules, also holds historical significance as the meeting place of Louise XIV and his future wife, Maria Theresa of Spain. The densely forested islet — ironically home to no pheasants — is only open to the public during the semiannual celebrations. The little bipartite island, located in Basque Country, is restricted to military personnel.
