And with the plaques, he had similar educational aims.
amazon.co.uk/Arts-Minds-Soc…
(His boss and father-in-law, Henry Cole, had done just the same to organise the famous Great Exhibition of 1851)
The problem, as he saw it, was that old London was being demolished.
His solution was plaques.
He hoped that historical associations would become a valuable *selling* point, at a time when new buildings were almost always considered better.
But there was little response, so the Society did it themselves.
As with so many of the Society's projects, it initiates them but then hands them on to others, so that it can move onto new things to improve.
But, unfortunately, they weren't always as successful as Bartley had hoped.
Proper preservation would take more active measures, and legislation. But persuasion was a start.
And for more on this truly remarkable Society, see my book: amazon.co.uk/Arts-Minds-Soc…