A gifted illustrator and poet, Eliza Eve Gleadall lived at Heath Old Hall, Heath. Her illustrations, which appeared most notably in her work The Beauties of Flora, would go on to inform classifications across the world, including at Kew Gardens, London and still carry importance to this day. While Eliza’sRead More →
In the 19th century, Wakefield was among several cities in the UK where anti-slavery movements gained significant ground. Wakefield is notable for incredible abolitionist campaigners like Elizabeth Dawson and Ann Hurst. Wakefield also saw visits from luminaries of the abolitionist cause such as Frederick Douglass and Sarah Parker Remond whoRead More →
Local history considers Elizabeth Moxon as a pioneering cookery writer from Pontefract, with her book English Housewifry described as the first modern cookbook by a person from Yorkshire. Dream Time Creative was commissioned by Pontefract Museum to investigate the book and Moxon’s life in 2018. What quickly emerged though wereRead More →
In 1912 Wakefield made Ophthalmic neonatorum, which is an infection of the newborn eye that leads to blindness, a notifiable disease. This was three years after the Potteries did so and three years before the government decided to follow suit. The people behind this countrywide monumental change? Women from Wakefield.Read More →
Eva Lett, of the famed Lett Family and sisters to renowned singer Phyllis Lett, grew up to be the first woman to be appointed Principal of Ripon College. Eva Lett is Number 8 in our quest for #BluePlaqueParity! Eva Lett’s Blue Plaque was unveiled as a dedicated Forgotten Women ofRead More →
Fanny Stott spent a life in public service, from training to be a nurse to becoming a local ward councillor and eventually becoming Wakefield’s first female Mayor. The Wakefield Civic Society unveiled her Blue Plaque on Saturday, 24th September in a ceremony attended by Mayor of Wakefield, Councillor David Jones,Read More →
The difficult and politically heady days at Hatfield Hall in Wakefield, when Florence and Gwendoline greeted Millicent Fawcett and other now famous suffragists, are difficult to imagine. They lived side by side, supporting one another and hundreds of women to find purpose in a world that constantly denied them theRead More →
Florence Margaret Beaumont was born 17th of June, 1876, in Stanley, Wakefield. From a young age, she set her sights on securing all women the right to vote. Despite not actively seeking power for herself, her unwavering will and unshakable morality propelled her to prominence, and she founded and helpedRead More →
Gertrude is number 3 in our quest for #BluePlaqueParity. We unveiled Gertrude’s blue plaque for International Women’s Day 2019 as part of theatre production ‘Difficult Women’ at The Mechanics’ Theatre. Gertrude McCroben was born in Bradford on the 30th of March, 1863, to Edward Ripley McCroben and Sarah (nee Hesslegrave).Read More →
In October 2019 Sarah Cobham invited Ossett Through The Ages (OTTA) to an event, at Wakefield Town Hall, to highlight the Forgotten Women of Wakefield. We were invited along to Wakefield to share the story of a Forgotten Woman of Ossett: Hannah Pickard. We first learned of Hannah Pickard afterRead More →