There are so many reasons why I love Bristol! Many of those are surface-level and relate to places in which I can eat, drink, walk and learn. However, another reason why my love of this city runs deep is due to the history behind it…or should I say ‘herstory’?

The number of incredible women who have grown up in, shaped or have been affiliated with Bristol is outstanding and all their stories are certainly shareworthy. However, I’ve selected a few, through a variety of time periods, whose stories have inspired many. 

Hannah More

Hannah More was born in Bristol in 1745 and became one of the original Bluestockings, a group of intellectual, 18th Century women who championed the inclusion of women in typically ‘intellectual’ discussions. Hannah was an incredibly intelligent woman and a talented writer (focusing on both religion and social reform) and poet.

A true Bluestockings member, she believed in the value of education and was able to identify the areas in society in which it lacked. Upon moving to Somerset, it was here that she established several schools whereby less fortunate children could be taught to read. In recognition of her values, several schools are named after Hannah and she was featured on the Bristol pound in 2012!

Mary Carpenter

Mary Carpenter was born in 1807 and lived in Bristol for a large portion of her life; similar to Hannah More, Mary soon learned the value of education but recognised that it was treated as a privilege rather than a right. In order to combat this, Mary established a school in Lewins Mead, followed by a Night School, which provided education and reformation to the less fortunate and young offenders.

However, Mary did not stop within the remits of Bristol! She took her activism all over the world, visiting schools and prisons in India, America and wider Europe. Today, Mary is buried in Arnos Vale Cemetery and many still come to visit her grave.

Elizabeth Blackwell

Elizabeth Blackwell was born in Bristol in 1821, however, she moved to the US when she was young. Elizabeth had significant responsibilities from a young age as she and her siblings provided for her family, both financially and otherwise, after her father passed away. Her strong will and motivation continued as she fought to become the first woman to qualify as a doctor in the US!

Elizabeth’s life was embellished with ‘firsts’: she was the first woman to attend medical school in America, she was the first woman on the medical register of the GMC. And she did not stop there. She continued to promote the progress of women in medicine in both the United States and the United Kingdom.

Interestingly, in a series of lectures she gave on the importance of educating women, one of the attendees was Elizabeth Garrett-Anderson, who went on to become the first woman to qualify as a doctor in the UK!

Carmen Beckford

When Carmen was 17, she moved from Jamaica to the UK in order to train as a nurse. She brought her experience in this career to Bristol in 1965. Carmen was full of community spirit and was at the centre of Bristol’s community from the get-go! She was a pivotal figure for race relations in Bristol and acted as one of the founding organisers of St Pauls Carnival (established in 1967).

Carmen’s achievements did not stop with the success of the Carnival as she became Bristol’s first community development officer, working alongside the City Council. In 1982, her spirit was recognised when she became the first black woman in the South West to receive an MBE, and we continue to acknowledge her legacy today.

Penny Brohn

Bristolian Penny Brohn was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1979 and knew immediately that she needed more than just medical treatment. Therefore, she co-founded the Bristol Cancer Help Centre in 1980. The centre offered therapies to cancer patients which went beyond treatment for their body. The treatments related to their mind, wellbeing and lifestyle.

Sadly, Penny passed away in 1999 after living with cancer for 20 years. However, the centre, now entitled Penny Brohn UK, continues to thrive. The organisation has expanded in relation to location, number of patients assisted and number of endorsements and campaigns. Penny Brohn UK celebrated its 40th anniversary last year.

The five wonderful women mentioned in this article are just a mere snippet of the women who have made Bristol what it is today! It is incredibly empowering to look back at what others have achieved for modern-day women – why not check out your city’s herstory?

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Written by Chelsea Peel

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