Old records mostly wrote about men: kings, lords and priests. That doesn't mean women weren't here! These are women connected to Birmingham that we know about. Can you find out about more?
SG
Sarah Guppy
1770–1852
Born here
An inventor, and the first woman to patent a bridge, in 1811. She also designed other products for the home and for ships. She was born in Birmingham.
JL
Jane Loudon
1800–1858
A blue plaque honours her
A writer and an early pioneer of science fiction, before the term existed. Her father was a lawyer from Edgbaston, and in 2008 the Birmingham Civic Society put up a blue plaque in her honour.
BP
Bessie Rayner Parkes
1829–1925
Born here
One of the best-known English campaigners for women's rights in Victorian times, and a poet, essayist and journalist. She was born in Birmingham.
MW
Mary Lee Woods
1924–2017
Born here
A mathematician and computer scientist who helped write programs for the Ferranti Mark 1 computer, and the mother of Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web. She was born in Hall Green and went to school in Yardley.
AH
Ann Haydon-Jones
born 1938
Born here
A tennis and table tennis champion who won eight Grand Slam tennis titles. She was born in Kings Heath, Birmingham.
GW
Gillian Wearing
born 1963
Born here
An artist who won the Turner Prize in 1997. Her statue of the suffragist Millicent Fawcett stands in London's Parliament Square. She was born in Birmingham.
FJ
Felicity Jones
born 1983
Born here
An actress who began acting as a child, including in The Worst Witch. She was born in Birmingham and grew up in Bournville.
LM
Laura Mvula
born 1986
From Birmingham
A classically trained singer from Birmingham, who sang with a cappella, jazz and gospel groups before her first record in 2012.
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In 1392 Birmingham's new Guild of the Holy Cross paid for a midwife, as well as chaplains, almshouses, a clock and the bridge over the River Rea.