Meccano founder's long-lost plaque to be reinstated

Hornby invented Meccano and was said to have been inspired by the railway in Liverpool

A long-lost commemorative plaque marking the birthplace of a famous Liverpool engineer and toy maker is to be reinstated at the city's main train station.

Frank Hornby, the brains behind Meccano, one of the most recognisable toy brands of the 20th century, was born at Copperas Hill, which later become part of the Liverpool Lime Street station.

The plaque installed in his honour 30 years ago disappeared during renovation work but has since been rediscovered by a local heritage group.

Network Rail is now seeking planning permission from Liverpool Council to put up the plaque in its new permanent home close to the Ken Dodd statue at the Grade II-listed station building.

The plaque was considered lost until it was rediscovered decades later

Based on engineering principles, Mr Hornby designed Meccano, Dinky cars and the Hornby Model Railway.

The toy firms had factories based in Liverpool when they were first developed as early as 1901.

Detective work by Network Rail and the Railway Heritage Trust managed to track down photos of the original plaque through the Hornby Railway Collectors' Association (HRCA) to make a reproduction.

It reads: "Frank Hornby, inventor of Meccano and Hornby model railway sets, was born at 77 Copperas Hill, on the site of this station, on May 15, 1863.

"His daily train journeys through this station inspired his inventions still enjoyed by millions throughout the world."

Network Rail plans to reinstate the plaque to the toymaker

After a HRCA member came into possession of the real plaque, the original commemoration was unveiled in June 2023 on a temporary plinth.

Subject to agreement by Liverpool Council, it will now be put back on permanent display on a stone column in the station, close to where he was born 162 years ago.