Ann Clarkson
Ann Clarkson (1800-1888) was the cousin of Clara Maria Clarkson and has several mentions in Clara’s journals.
Ann was a frequent member of the Unitarian chapel congregation and was active in its social and political causes.
As well as being a passionate supporter of suffrage for women, Ann established Wakefield’s committee for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in 1836. This organisation would later become part of the RSPCA.
Ann’s lifelong commitment to helping others was memorialised by a trough and water fountain which was paid for by the people of Wakefield.
Ann Clarkson is Blue Plaque number 23 in our quest for #BluePlaqueParity.
We unveiled Ann’s blue plaque on the 19th of November at Wakefield town hall in a ceremony presided over by Mayor Tracy Austin.
Ann Clarkson Broadsheets
Find out all about Ann Clarkson’s remarkable life of campaigning and improving her community with our Broadsheets below.
Click on the broadsheets to enlarge or please feel free to email us if you would like the broadsheets in a different format.
Ann Clarkson Creative Responses
We have also recreated moments from Ann’s life by picking out mentions of Ann in her cousin Clarak Clarkson’s journals and then photographing them. Among the below images we have captured Ann’s political upset when the liberals lost an election, her attending chapel and doing work for the Unitarian faith, her relationship with Clara, and her passion for animals.