Thread by @NorwichCastle

It’s time for our second #WomensHistoryMonth guest post from @rosiesplaques! This time, Nicole tells us about the unstoppable woman behind this handmade blue plaque, which was put up outside The Assembly House in May 2019. Read on below! #WHM2021

Photo credit: @NorfolkHC

“Dorothy Jewson was a fearless, trailblazing feminist, born in 1884 of an alderman in the coal and timber business and a mother from Norwich’s famous Jarrold family. She came from Thorpe Hamlet and was educated at Norwich Girls’ School when it was situated in the Assembly House.”

“Initially a teacher, she became active in politics. She joined the suffrage movement, pressed for alleviation of poverty, supported female workers’ rights and took an anti-war stance. In 1924 she was one of the first women elected to Parliament and gave a rousing maiden speech.”

“She was not afraid of courting controversy - despite being required to do so, she deliberately neglected to wear a hat at the opening of Parliament and later declared that she was not ‘in Parliament to discuss dress or millinery, but to do something’.” #WomensHistoryMonth

“Jewson was instrumental in providing open spaces in #Norwich for the enjoyment of all, such as Waterloo, Eaton, Heigham and #Wensum parks. She can be seen in photos with a trademark knitted scarf long before Doctor Who! She died in 1964.” #WomensHistoryMonth #WHM2021