Mabel Norton
A woman who lived through two world wars, constrained by social convention and the church, but at the forefront of social change, chose to spend her time, energy and skill working both within the Church of England as a lynchpin of the Mother’s Union and within her community as a quiet influencer for the rights of disabled war veterans, child evacuees and young women struggling to find their place in a post war world.
Mabel is the first blue plaque to a Forgotten Woman funded entirely by money raised through ticket sales to heritage walks around Wakefield by the entirely volunteer ‘Round Our Way‘ team. As the creative heritage arm of Dream Time Creative, Sarah, Jack, Olivia and Debbie have worked tirelessly to provide entertaining, interactive and immersive walks to groups of people interested in our history.
Mable Norton is Blue Plaque Number 36 in our quest for #BluePlaqueParity. Mabel’s Blue Plaque was unveiled at the September Artwalk 2024.
Creative Response
A Wonderful Connection
Sometimes wonderful things happen and people remember our Forgotten Women and come forward with stories about them. We are do delighted that the Cathedral office received this memory of Mabel Norton.
“‘I have just been reading an article (online) about Miss Mabel Race Norton – this was so interesting as she was my Sunday School teacher at the Kitchenroyd Reading Room. I also remember going to a ‘club’ at Bagden Hall called the KING’S MESSENGERS, AND MEETING A GIRL, SLIGHTLY OLDER THAN ME, CALLED BARBARA BUTLER – I PRESUME SHE WAS ONE OF HER EVACUEES. My Grandma Clara Askham also had a girl called June Brackenbury to live with her (I have photographs of her, and presume she was one of Miss Norton’s evacuees?
BEST WISHES TO YOU ALL FOR KEEPING UP THE GOOD WORK AT WAKEFIELD!’”