Now Live: The Blue Plaque Petition
Recognising the life and legacy of Lady Olivia Bernard Sparrow — civic patron, philanthropist, reformist, and visionary of rural compassion in modern Britain.
About the Blue Plaque Petition for Olivia’s support of children’s education and housing
More than two centuries ago, Lady Olivia Bernard Sparrow played a decisive role in shaping education and social provision in the Cambridgeshire village of Brampton and beyond.
Long before the introduction of state schooling, she established and funded the village’s first school, ensuring teachers were paid, books and materials were supplied, and education was accessible to children who would otherwise have been excluded. Her work extended beyond children alone, supporting adult literacy and the training of women as teachers at a time when such opportunities were rare.
Her initials — O.B.S — remain carved into cottages, farms and buildings around the village. These structures were not symbolic gestures, but practical acts of provision: housing and stability for labourers, and tangible evidence of a belief that education, welfare, and responsibility belonged within everyday community life.
How you can Support
This petition calls for a permanent blue plaque at Brampton Village Primary School, recognising Lady Olivia as founder and benefactor of the original school building. The plaque would serve as a formal public record of her contribution to education, equality, and civic life in 19th Century Britain.
You can support the campaign by signing the petition, sharing it with others who have a connection to Brampton or its school, and adding a short personal note explaining why this history matters to you.
Please note: after signing, Change.org may invite you to make a donation. Any such contribution goes to Change.org itself, not to the O.B.S. Blue Plaque campaign. This campaign is requesting support only, not funding.
Scan to sign the petition
Olivia’s life in Brampton
Lady Olivia Bernard Sparrow (née Acheson) was an Anglo-Irish landowner and philanthropist who, after being widowed in 1805, poured her energy into Brampton and the surrounding region. She inherited estate interests (including Brampton Park) and used her position to champion education, welfare, and architecture. In 1821-22 she commissioned Thomas Steadman Whitwell to rebuild parts of Brampton Park House; further design work in 1825 was done by John Buonarotti Papworth, including creation of entrance lodges and a coach house. Olivia’s influence is visible in stone and structure throughout the village — her initials “O.B.S” mark schools, walls, and homes she helped establish or reform.
Family, faith, friendships & legacy
Born eldest daughter of Arthur Acheson, 1st Earl of Gosford, and Millicent Pole, Olivia was deeply religious and evangelical, supporting dozens of societies devoted to education, moral reform, and relief of the poor. Her daughter Millicent married Lord Mandeville, linking estates and influence, and Olivia engaged with noted reformers like Hannah More and William Wilberforce. She backed schools in Brampton and elsewhere, personally oversaw the staffing of instructors (notably Ridley Haim Herschell in 1835–36), and built cottages for those in need. Her legacy lives on not just in buildings and initials, but in a spirit of compassion, service, and belief in bettering lives — a presence people still feel walking through the village.
1775—2025
O.B.S Legacy Map
A FREE ‘Legacy Map’ created to encourage exploration, curiosity, and connection with the village of Brampton’s remarkable heritage.
Brampton rewards those who walk it slowly. Quiet streets, listed architecture, and changing light reveal how centuries of building and re-building have shaped a village. Many of the sites featured in the map were commissioned by Lady Olivia Bernard Sparrow during the 19th century.
Use the guide to follow in her footsteps. Look for the O.B.S. insignia marking places associated with her family and foundations, and enjoy the village she once called home.
Note: This free PDF download has been compressed for a quicker download. It includes two A3 pages (front and back) and can be folded into four sections. An official A2 professionally printed map is also available for £3 including P&P (UK & Ireland).
Listen to the Podcast
The project includes a contemporary posthumous interview with Lady Olivia Bernard Sparrow, created using AI voice training and scripted from historical records, original letters, and architectural evidence.
The approach is transparent and editorially accurate: AI is used as a tool to reconstruct a plausible speaking voice, not to invent views or events. This allows contemporary audiences to engage directly with her own ideas and decisions, bringing historical material into a present-day format while remaining grounded in documented fact.
Thank you to all our local volunteers, supporters and historical advisors:
