A blue plaque is a permanent sign to commemorate a link between that location and a famous person, event, or former building on the site, which serves as a historical marker -kb with some placed by English Heritage and others by Portsmouth City Council.
There are a number of them in the city – we take a look at where some of them are and who they celebrate:
![The former Royal Navy sailor and fruit merchant made waves with with passion for amateur single-handed sailing. He took part in the second single-handed Atlantic race in 1964 and circumnavigated the globe single-handedly in 1967–68, for which he was knighted. His boat Lively Lady is still seaworthy and is used for sail training by a charity. A plaque can be found along Southsea seafront on the wall by the hovercraft which commemorates his landing point after his epic voyage.
Pictured: John Edwards from the USA investigates the Sir Alec Rose plaque on Southsea sea front.](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjQ2ZTc0MmY4LTU5ZDQtNDU5Ny1hODBkLTM1NGMyZTllOTEyZDo0NjNiNTA2OC1lZjg2LTRmZDktOWZmNi1iNjc5NTdhZTZkNDM=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
5. Sir Alec Rose
The former Royal Navy sailor and fruit merchant made waves with with passion for amateur single-handed sailing. He took part in the second single-handed Atlantic race in 1964 and circumnavigated the globe single-handedly in 1967–68, for which he was knighted. His boat Lively Lady is still seaworthy and is used for sail training by a charity. A plaque can be found along Southsea seafront on the wall by the hovercraft which commemorates his landing point after his epic voyage. Pictured: John Edwards from the USA investigates the Sir Alec Rose plaque on Southsea sea front.Photo: ian hargreaves
![The much-loved author Charles Dickens is celebrated with a blue plaque at his birth place in Old Commercial Road - an attraction you can also visit.
Picture: Ian Hargreaves (141665-10)](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjUzYzdiZGU3LTJmMGEtNDg3ZS05YmY5LTI2NTBhOWI0Mzk3Zjo5ODUzZGM5Yy1hNjEwLTRmZjMtYjM2Yy0yOWJmZWZiZTMyOTE=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
6. Charles Dickens
The much-loved author Charles Dickens is celebrated with a blue plaque at his birth place in Old Commercial Road - an attraction you can also visit. Picture: Ian Hargreaves (141665-10)Photo: Ian Hargreaves
![The birthplace of Portsmouth Football is marked with a plaque at 12 High Street, Old Portsmouth where the meeting was held to found the club in 1898
Pictured: Pompey fan Rick Hawkins from Fareham shows an interest in the Portsmouth Football Club plaque
Picture: Ian Hargreaves (141665-4)](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmU3MjczZTM4LWRiNzUtNDMxNy05ZTBmLTk0MWZkMGIxYmExNjoxYmZlMTg3NC1jYmUxLTQxNTAtYTM4My05MTE2MWM0MzJkN2I=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
7. Portsmouth Football Club
The birthplace of Portsmouth Football is marked with a plaque at 12 High Street, Old Portsmouth where the meeting was held to found the club in 1898 Pictured: Pompey fan Rick Hawkins from Fareham shows an interest in the Portsmouth Football Club plaque Picture: Ian Hargreaves (141665-4)Photo: Ian Hargreaves
![A plaque for aircraft designer and Royal Naval officer Nevil Shute Norway can be found outside his former home in Helena Road, Southsea.
Picture: Ian Hargreaves (141665-13)](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjA5YTFjMzI2LWEzMGMtNDQzOC1hNGQxLTllMWExNGM0ZTllZjpiMWZhODQzMS1jMGFlLTQ5YTgtYmVkYi1mODUyODFlMGY5MGU=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
8. Nevil Shute Norway
A plaque for aircraft designer and Royal Naval officer Nevil Shute Norway can be found outside his former home in Helena Road, Southsea. Picture: Ian Hargreaves (141665-13)Photo: Ian Hargreaves