With crooked politicians dominating the headlines, history enthusiasts have called for Wimbledon’s own pioneer of the art to be recognised.
They want a plaque at Cannizaro House commemorating former resident Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville - the last politician to be impeached from the House of Lords - to be restored.
A sign commemorating Dundas, who lived at the lavish property in the late 18th Century when it was known as Warren House, was painted over three years ago by the previous owners. The loss was recently spotted by conservation group the Wimbledon Society, who installed the plaque.
The house on West Side was recently taken over by hotel chain Bridgehouse Hotels. Operations manager Rowan Elmes said its new owners would be pleased to help with the restoration of the plaque and celebrate the heritage of the building.
He said: “It’s a very old house and we constantly have guests asking us about its past.”
Amateur historian Peter Gale has written on the lives of Wimbledon’s former residents, and said the plaques commemorating them should be promoted and looked after.
“We should try and hold on to as many of these as possible,” he said.
Born in Scotland, Dundas was a successful cabinet minister under Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger and became famous for opposing the abolition of slavery.
He was impeached over alleged corruption while he was treasurer of the admiralty between 1782 and 1800.
Although he was eventually only found guilty of negligence, the charges marked the end of his political career.
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