Hornby plaque to be reinstated at Lime Street

Frank Hornby was the brains behind some of the most recognisable toy brands of the 20th century including Meccano and Dinky cars.

Transcript

00:00A long-lost commemorative plaque marking the birthplace of a famous Liverpool engineer

00:06and toy maker is to be reinstated at the city's main train station.

00:10Frank Hornby was the brains behind some of the most recognisable toy brands of the 20th

00:15century.

00:16Based on engineering principles, Mr Hornby designed Meccano, Dinky Cars and the Hornby

00:21Model Railway.

00:22The toy firm had factories based here in the city when they were first developed as early

00:27as 1901.

00:29The businessman, engineer and former Member of Parliament was born at Copperis Hill,

00:34which later became part of the expansion of Liverpool Lime Street Station.

00:38A plaque in his honour was installed there more than 30 years ago.

00:42However, during station renovations five years later, the item was taken down and never seen

00:48again.

00:49A generation on a second plaque has been designed to be put back on display in the city centre

00:54station.

00:55Network Rail is now seeking planning permission from Liverpool Council to put up the plaque

01:00in its new permanent home close to the Ken Dodd statue at the Grade 2 listed station building.

01:06Detective work by Network Rail and the Railway Heritage Trust managed to track down photos of

01:11the original plaque through the Hornby Railway Collectors Association to make a reproduction of it.

01:17However, rather than needing to make a new one, a Hornby Railway Collectors Association member

01:23revealed they had actually come into possession of the real item itself and as a result the

01:28original commemoration was unveiled in June 2023 on a temporary plinth.

01:33Subject to agreements by Liverpool Council, it will now be put back on permanent display on

01:39a stone column in the station where he was born 162 years ago.

01:44Subject to open the line up to the air in the station.

01:45Subject to open the floor was changed, which was just likeَّ the only time before the

01:56wall belges and the limit on the off.

01:58Subject to open the floor was changed, but we're going to have to place a new one.

02:03You can see this as a new one, but I'm connected to our own.