A MEMORIAL plaque has been unveiled marking the residence of one of Frenchay’s most famous sons.

The inscription on the The Old House, on Beckspool Road, commemorates the birthplace of Francis Fox Tuckett, alpinist and explorer renowned for scaling 269 peaks in his lifetime.

The Blue Plaque, which was unveiled on Saturday by Winterbourne Parish Council which has funded the project, coincided with the 100th anniversary since the mountaineer died, also at The Old House.

Alan Freke, curator of Frenchay Village Museum which has overseen the plaque scheme, said: “We were pleased to welcome the Italian consul, as Francis Fox Tuckett is revered in Italy where he mapped most of the Dolomites in the 1860s.

“Hotels, geographical features, even a sporting trophy there are named after him.”

The son of Francis and Mariana Tuckett, the adventurer was described as a pioneer of Alpine exploration ‘whose name was known throughout the Alps’.

He became vice-president of the Alpine Club from 1866 to 1868, and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

He died in 1913 at the Old House.