This International Women’s Day we celebrated the achievements of Bristol women with Jane Duffus, author of The Women Who Built Bristol. As part of our celebrations we offered levy payers who live and work in the city centre a unique opportunity to join us with Jane on a guided tour through time to discuss some of the extraordinary stories of incredible women who lived and worked Bristol through history. Keep reading to find out what we learnt. The sold out event saw people who live and work in Redcliffe and Temple walk from Temple Meads Station through to St Mary Redcliffe Church and Welsh Back.
Events
International Women’s Day
Find out what we got up to for International Women's Day.
08/03/2023
ELLEN JEFFERIES
Ellen Jefferies was an entrepreneur in the refreshment trade throughout the Victorian era. She ran refreshment rooms at Temple Meads Station and other stations in the south west. She had 12 live-in staff, eight of which were female.
At 77 years old, Ellen was still in charge of the rooms. She died in 1917 aged 80, leaving an estate of £58,000 – that’s around £3.5 million in today’s terms. Her funeral was well attended, including the Great Western Railway divisional superintendent and eight officials.
Emma Saunders
Known as ‘The Railwayman’s Friend’ for her work visiting railwaymen and their families in Bristol, Emma Saunders was a teacher, strict Christian and all round kind woman. She founded the Bristol and West of England Institute which provided education and spiritual classes for the railwaymen and was a pioneer member of the Railway Mission.
For her 80th birthday more than 5000 people contributed to her gift of a Chesterfield armchair. In July 1928 a plaque was unveiled at the entrance to Bristol Temple Meads station to celebrate her fifty years of “devoted Christian service”.
ALICE CHESTRE
Alice Chestre was a successful merchant and a benefactor of Bristol who donated the city’s first crane to the Port of Bristol, Welsh Back, in 1475.
LUNCHTIME EVENTS
Throughout the year we offer a range of free lunchtime events for employees of levy paying businesses, ranging from fitness classes including Yoga and LHG Run Club, walking tours and much more. Sign up to our newsletter to be the first to hear about our upcoming lunchtime events. If you’re not sure whether or not your business is a levy payer, please get in touch.
