The Extraordinary Women of Littleborough

Nick Andrews, Project Champion with Hare Hill House, in conversation with Rae Street, one of Littleborough’s Extraordinary Women

In recognition of the centenary of the Universal Suffrage Act, there will be hundreds of Heritage Open Days events taking place all over the country on the theme of ‘Extraordinary Women’.

Rather than identify women from all over the country, the Friends of Hare Hill House in Littleborough have chosen to focus on women who are, or have been, Littleborough residents.

The first two of four open days at Hare Hill House last weekend were very well attended with over 200 visitors taking part in both, looking at the exhibition of Extraordinary Women from Littleborough as well as tours of the House and the Newall Family Walk as well as joining in with a mock debate about women’s rights.

Nick Andrews, the project champion for the restoration of Hare Hill House, said: “We know we haven’t identified all of the Extraordinary Women from Littleborough yet but the ones we’ve chosen to highlight for this event range from Sybil ‘Queenie’ Fenton Newall, who was born in 1854 and remains the oldest ever woman to win an Olympic Gold Medal, through to Katie McGlynn, a Coronation Street actress.”

Nick added: “All of the women we’re currently celebrating have gained recognition beyond the local community but there are many extraordinary women who on a regular basis make a significant contribution to our local community.

“We are asking visitors to the Open Days to nominate these extraordinary women so that we can celebrate their contribution as well.”

Hare Hill House is open again next weekend on both Saturday and Sunday from 11.00am through to 3.00pm.

Like last week, there will be guided tours of the House and a longer tour to look at the impact the Newall Family had on the more central part of Littleborough.

Weather permitting, the longer tour will set off from Hare Hill House at 1.00pm on Saturday 15 September.

Visitors can, once again, join in with a mock debate in the newly re-decorated Council Chamber, arguing against women having the right to vote.

At about 11.30am on Saturday, Rae Street will give a talk about Enid Stacey, who devoted herself to campaigning for socialism and the rights of women.

Circa 1930, another of Littleborough’s extraordinary women, Ivy Ellis became the local midwife and her relatives have passed on some of the memorabilia she left behind. If one of your family members, or you, were born in Littleborough between the late 1920s and 1940, then you can probably find a photograph from just after their birth on display.

If there is a photograph of one of your family members, or you, you can ask for a copy in exchange for a small donation.