Birmingham Civic Society and Bournville Village Trust to unveil Dame Elizabeth Cadbury blue plaque.
A Victorian philanthropist who campaigned for women’s and children’s rights to health and education is to be honoured with a blue plaque at the school she opened 119 years ago.
Dame Elizabeth Cadbury was an activist, politician and philanthropist who worked with her husband, chocolate-maker George Cadbury, to change people’s lives in Birmingham. She opened the Woodland Hospital (now the Royal Orthopaedic), built a holiday home for children from inner-city slums and campaigned to provide medical inspections in schools. In 1922, at a time when it was incredibly rare for women to be in a position of power, Dame Elizabeth became Chair of Bournville Village Trust, opening its 200th house.
Now Birmingham Civic Society and charity Bournville Village Trust will unveil a blue plaque in her honour on 6th November at Bournville Junior School, which she opened in 1906.
Daniel Callicott, Heritage Manager at Bournville Village Trust, said: “Dame Elizabeth was a pioneer who enriched the lives of so many women and children in the city. She blazed a trail at a time when it was incredibly difficult for women to stand up for themselves let alone others and this is reflected in the vast variety of roles she took on.
“She led an extraordinary life; leading committees, chairing Bournville Village Trust, which celebrates its 125th anniversary this year, and representing the country on the global stage by leading the UK delegation to the World Congress of the International Council of Women in 1936 when she was well into her 70s!
“We are very proud to see Dame Elizabeth recognised with a blue plaque and we hope it will inspire all the pupils at Bournville Junior School who will see it each day to reach high and achieve amazing things.”
Nicola Gauld, Co-Chair of Birmingham Civic Society’s Heritage Committee, said: “Birmingham Civic Society is pleased to partner with Bournville Village Trust in awarding this blue plaque to Dame Elizabeth Cadbury.
“Since the 1950s the Birmingham Civic Society has installed blue plaques to commemorate people who excelled in their career or made a significant contribution to our city. Dame Elizabeth’s campaigning and practical work to improve education and health for women and children impacted the lives of many and a blue plaque to recognise her achievements is long overdue.
“Blue plaques are a good way to connect people of the past with the present and it is particularly fitting that the plaque will be installed on Bournville Junior School, a building she opened nearly 120 years ago.”
Born in Surrey in 1858, Dame Elizabeth was born into a socially aware Quaker family and visited workhouses with her mother and volunteered at children’s hospitals in her youth. When she left school, she did social work in the London docks and Paris, taught boys in a poor district of south London and worked with women in the slums of the capital. At the time, these activities were very unusual for a woman of her age and status.
In 1888, she married George Cadbury, moved to Birmingham and had six children. She never stopped her work as a campaigner and took on various roles in a bid to improve people’s lives. She…
– Founded the Birmingham Union of Girls’ Clubs in 1898 and the Midlands Division of the Young Women’s Christian Association.
– Was Vice President of the Electrical Association for Women, which promoted the benefits of electricity in the home to alleviate women’s domestic drudgery.
– Chaired Birmingham City Education Committee’s Hygiene Sub-Committee.
– Was the first chair of the Peace and International Relations Committee of the National Council of Women.
– Led efforts to provide housing and schooling in Birmingham for young refugees from Serbia and Austria who escaped conflict and poverty in their home countries during and after WW1.
– Worked with Belgian refugees during WW2, and after the war continued her efforts with the International Council of Women.
– Was a Birmingham city councillor for King’s Norton ward from 1919 to 1924.
