Writer, illustrator and journalist Frederic Kitton could become the latest St Albans luminary to receive a plaque in the city.

Professor Tim Boatswain has submitted an application to the district council on behalf of Blue Plaques St Albans, an organisation that seeks to recognise figures from the city's rich history.

The plans would see a blue plaque installed to commemorate Kitton's work as a writer, designer and conservation campaigner in the city.

The site of the plaque would be the exterior North Wall of The Gables, Market Place.

Born in Norwich in 1856, Frederic Kitton spent much of his life in St Albans, living at the bottom of Holywell Hill.

He worked as a journalist for London-based newspaper The Graphic, before writing a series of books on Charles Dickens, becoming an authority on the author's works.

In his adopted city he became known for his illustrations of old St Albans and Hertfordshire, co-editing the Hertfordshire Illustrated Review.

He was elected as a member of St Albans & Hertfordshire Architectural and Archaeological Society in 1897, taking a keen interest in conservation.

He led opposition to Lord Grimthorpe's efforts to rebuild St Albans Cathedral, penning a letter to The Herts Advertiser to express his dissent.

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If plans are approved, Kitton would join the likes of Stephen Hawking, Sarah Churchill and Nathaniel Cotton in receiving a blue plaque in St Albans.

The most recent plaque was for Margaret Wix, the city's first female Mayor.

Her plaque was unveiled last month at her former address of 40 Holywell Hill.

Plans for the plaque are now open to a public consultation, with no comments or objections received at time of writing.

A heritage consultation raised no concerns, with planning officers saying that the proposal would "preserve the special architectural or historic interest of the building."

The public have until September 7 to comment and can do so by visiting the St Albans City and District Council planning portal and entering the reference number 5/2024/1187.