Old records mostly wrote about men: kings, lords and merchants. That doesn't mean women weren't here! These are women connected to Guildford that we know about. Can you find out about more?
EP
Eleanor of Provence
c. 1223–1291
Founded the friary
Queen of England as the wife of King Henry III. Around 1275 she founded the Guildford Black Friary, a community of Dominican friars.
GJ
Gertrude Jekyll
1843–1932
Gave to the museum
A horticulturist and garden designer who created over 400 gardens. In 1911 a new gallery opened at Guildford Museum to house objects she had given.
MC
Mildred Cable
1878–1952
Born here
A Christian missionary in China with the China Inland Mission. With the sisters Francesca and Eva French, she is best known for her missionary work along remote caravan routes in Central Asia and the Gobi Desert. She was born in Guildford, the daughter of a draper.
WG
Winifred Gill
1891–1981
Born here
An artist, social reformer and craftswoman, born in Guildford. Her letters are an important source of information about the Omega Workshops, set up by Roger Fry.
JH
Joan Harrison
1907–1994
Born here
A screenwriter and producer, born in Guildford. She co-wrote Rebecca and Foreign Correspondent (1940), both directed by Alfred Hitchcock, and was the first woman screenwriter nominated for the Best Original Screenplay Award.
EI
Eleanora Iredale
Worked here
The secretary of the Cathedral Committee. In 1952 she and the committee launched the 'Buy-a-Brick' campaign for Guildford Cathedral.
CI
Celia Imrie
born 1952
Born here
An actress known for films including the Bridget Jones series and Nanny McPhee. She was born in Guildford and went to Guildford High School and the Guildford School of Acting.
KD
Katherine Dienes-Williams
Worked here
In January 2008 she became the first woman to be Organist and Master of the Choristers at an English Anglican cathedral.
👭
Since 2002, girl choristers have sung at Guildford Cathedral on Sundays and at Evensong on Fridays.