From English Heritage: "... founded in 1875 by Mary Townsend as an Anglican organisation that offered care and support to such women, through seven 'lodges' across west London, in areas like Ealing, Kensington and at 5 Bourdon Street, Berkeley Square where young women 'working in shops in the neighbourhood and (who) require a comfortable and safe lodgings' could lodge in separate cubicles. By 1912, places were inadequate to meet demand, 'owing to the remarkable development and rapid increase in the number of professions and occupations open to women, and the consequent necessity of their leaving their homes and living away from their relatives and friends'."
This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Girls Friendly Society
Commemorated ati
Girls Friendly Society hostel
This foundation stone is behind railings, hence the squew-whiff photo.
Other Subjects
Caroline Martineau
Born Caroline Anne, daughter of Richard Martineau, a director and partner of the Whitbread Brewery. Early on she was interested in the study of natural science, attending lectures at the Royal Ins...
Ada Nield Chew
Working-class, factory worker, promoter of women’s trade unions. Born on a farm in North Staffordshire as Ada Nield. 1897 married George Chew (d.1940) who was also an organiser with the Independe...
Frederick Park
Park and Ernest Boulton were 'Fanny and Stella', the celebrated Victorian cross-dressers. Little is available about Park but see Boulton for their joint activities.
Margaret Ethel MacDonald
Feminist and social reformer. Daughter of John & Margaret Gladstone. Born 17 Pembridge Square, her mother dying soon after. Brought up to do good works, she became a socialist, joined the Labou...
Person, Gender Issues, Politics & Administration, Social Welfare
Annie Kenney
Working-class suffragette from Manchester, member of the WSPU and one of the most prominent women in the movement. Born Oldham. 1918, after some women had won the vote, she married James Taylor (18...
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