Old records mostly wrote about men: kings, actors, mayors and factory owners. That doesn't mean women weren't here! These are women connected to Southwark that we know about. Can you find out about more?
CT
Catharine Parr Traill
1802–1899
Born here
An author and naturalist, born in Rotherhithe. She wrote 24 books about life as a settler in Ontario, Canada, and about its natural history, especially plants.
MP
Mary Potter
1847–1913
Born here
Born in a rented house in Bermondsey, she became a Catholic religious sister and founded the Little Company of Mary in 1877.
CS
Catherine Amy Dawson Scott
1865–1934
Born here
A writer, playwright and poet, born in Dulwich. In 1921 she co-founded English PEN, an organisation of writers that became the first centre of PEN International.
MP
Mabel Philipson
1886–1951
Born here
An actress born at 1 Copeland Avenue, Peckham. In 1923 she became the third woman to take a seat in the House of Commons after it became legally possible in 1918, as MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed.
MB
Mavis Batey
1921–2013
Born here
Born in Dulwich, she was one of the leading women codebreakers at Bletchley Park during the Second World War. Later she became a historian of gardening and campaigned to save historic parks and gardens.
SA
Sylvia Anderson
1927–2016
Born here
A TV producer, writer, voice actress and costume designer, born in Camberwell. She worked on TV series with Gerry Anderson and created the characters Lady Penelope and Parker in Thunderbirds.
👭
Peckham was home to the Peckham Black Women's Centre until 1990.