A BLUE plaque has been unveiled in York to honour the man who invented the Hansom Cab in the 19th century.

Some cabs still bear the surname of Joseph Aloysius Hansom who was born in Micklegate.

Yesterday a blue plaque was unveiled at his birthplace, now the Brigantes Brasserie. Hanson, who lived from 1803 to 1882, was the architect and designer of the cab and was born and lived in the property.

He was the son of a builder and became a freeman of York. After showing flair for design he became an architect’s apprentice and moved to Halifax.

In 1828 Hansom registered his idea of the patent safety cab.

It still conjures up images of foggy streets in Victorian London, cabs hailed by the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes.

There is an original Hansom Cab in York Castle Museum.

York Civic Trust has been placing plaques since the late 1940s.