BLUE PLAQUE FOR SIEBE

AUGUSTUS SIEBE 1788 - 1872

5 Denmark Street, London
Commemorating the Manufacturer of the First Closed Diving Dress

On Thursday 7^th of September 2000 a group of HDS members and guests gathered in central London to celebrate one of the most important achievements in the Society’s ten year history: the unveiling of an English Heritage ‘Blue Plaque’ commemorating Augustus Siebe at No. 5, Denmark Street, Soho.

Augustus Siebe (1788-1872) was a crucial figure in the development of early helmet diving, manufacturing the first 'open' helmets for the Deane brothers in the 1820s and later patenting the 'closed', or Standard Dress apparatus. His home and workshop still stand in the heart of London, and the HDS have been lobbying for nine years to have a Blue Plaque erected in his honour.

Although not the first HDS-inspired plaque, this particular memorial is especially prestigious. An English Heritage Blue Plaque is indeed something special, as only a dozen or so are erected each year and each application undergoes a thorough process of research, scrutiny and approval. They are, in effect, a permanent addition to a building, and given that most nominated buildings are in themselves historic, such an action is not undertaken lightly. Furthermore, whilst English Heritage have no objection to commemorating engineers, it remains a fact that artists are far more likely to be honoured in this way than inventors. Thus this plaque to Augustus Siebe, whose greatest achievements were in manufacturing, is doubly satisfying.

Instrumental in securing the success of the project was broadcaster Loyd Grossman who is, amongst many other things, Chairman of the National Plaques committee of English Heritage, as well as a long standing SCUBA diver. Loyd, who took his first dip in the mid-1960s, not only lobbied hard for the plaque but was kind enough to unveil it on behalf of the HDS (and in the  process, joined the Society!).

Francis Carnwath, Chairman of the Greater London Blue Plaques committee, began proceedings by outlining the work of the various Blue Plaque committees and explained how a rigorous vetting process ensured only the most significant of individuals were commemorated in this unique way. The average wait, he told the assembled crowd of HDS members, guests and odd (some very odd) bystanders was around five years. Though a wait of nine, as in the case of the Siebe plaque, was not unknown.

John Bevan then gave a talk on the life of Augustus Siebe, explaining that he came to London in about 1816 from Prussia, and had set up a business in High Holborn. He moved to Denmark Street in 1828, the property serving as both home and workshop. His youngest son, Henry Siebe (the Siebe of Siebe Gorman) was born here. Siebe lived and worked and ultimately died at the age of 84 at No.5 Denmark Street.. His greatest products were made here, including the famous smoke helmet for the Deane brothers which he later converted into a diving helmet in about 1830. Siebe’s first closed apparatus would also have been produced here, and it is certain that the property would have been visited by many of the famous figures in diving history.

Loyd Grossman then made a short speech in which he drew attention to the fact that the first Blue Plaque (to Lord Byron) was erected in 1866, well within Siebe’s own lifetime. In all that time, however, not one, until today, had commemorated a diving pioneer. He then remarked on Denmark Street itself, famous in modern times as a centre of musical instrument retailing, possessed a a history stretching back much further in time. He was pleased to see a Blue Plaque which made reference to this other history. Then, to a superbly timed electric guitar riff from a nearby shop, and general applause, he unveiled the plaque.