H. G. Wells Blue Plaque

Camden Erected 1966

Inscription

H. G. Wells 1866-1946 writer lived and died here

About This Blue Plaque

H.G. Wells (1866-1946) was a prolific English writer, now best remembered for his pioneering science fiction novels like “The War of the Worlds”, “The Time Machine”, “The Invisible Man” and “The Island of Doctor Moreau”. These visionary tales earned him the moniker “father of science fiction”.

But Wells was far more than a sci-fi writer. Over his prolific 60-year career, the London-born author produced an estimated 50 novels and dozens of short stories across a range of genres. His works often blended futuristic speculation with pointed social commentary and biting satire. He also penned many non-fiction books and essays on politics, society, science and the future of humanity.

After a modest upbringing and stint as an apprentice draper, Wells won a scholarship to study biology, igniting his imagination and setting him on his literary path. By the late 1890s, he was an internationally famous author. In 1936, a decade before his death, Wells moved to 13 Hanover Terrace in London’s borough of Camden. The impressive Regency townhouse would be his final residence. Now marked by a blue plaque erected in 1966 on the 100th anniversary of Wells’ birth, the building stands as a monument to one of England’s most imaginative and influential modern writers.

So if you find yourself on Hanover Terrace, take a moment to ponder the plaque and the remarkable life and legacy of H.G. Wells. His fantastic tales of time travel, alien invasion and human transformation have left an indelible mark on our collective imagination, inspiring countless storytellers and sparking a sense of wonder in readers around the world for well over a century.