Elizabeth Wolstenholme Elmy

Elizabeth used her skill with words to write about the need for women to have much greater rights. Her words influenced many laws that changed the position of women in society. Today her words are still powerful and relevant.

Futures for Women – a vision of Victorian feminists and still working as a positive force to support women today.

Exploring the major role Elizabeth played in winning the vote for women. She was both a suffragist and a suffragette.

Elizabeth lived at Buxton House, Congleton, for most of her adult life. A visit to the house encouraged me to reflect on her life; so frequently she faced hardship and yet never gave up the fight for women’s rights.

International Women’s Day 2022 is marked in Congleton with unveiling of the Elizabeth Wolstenholme Elmy statue. The town turned out to celebrate this amazing woman.

All women were powerless and invisible in British law when Elizabeth became a young adult. Her many campaigns challenged the law and saw numerous important changes. From the Married Women’s Property Act to gaining the vote, Elizabeth was fighting for equality.

Fulneck School gave Elizabeth her only opportunity of a good education. She grabbed it with both hands. Being a female, going on to university was not possible. Despite this, she built on her time at Fulneck by opening up education for girls and improving teacher training.

From Manchester to Fulneck, the country was rocked by riots. Elizabeth was growing up in turbulent times and these set her on the path to radical politics. Later in life, she recalled events from her childhood that fired her passion for justice and fairness.

Growing up in the radical hotbed of Manchester, Elizabeth experienced the many barriers faced by women. Challenging these became her life’s work.