Ramsgate’s long history is filled with remarkable women whose contributions to the town and wider society have sometimes been overlooked and lost to time.
Pioneers and trailblazers in civil rights, politics, business and the arts, their legacy has shaped not only Ramsgate, but the world we live in today.
2023 marks the centenary of the appointment of the town’s first female mayor and its benefactor, Dame Janet Stancomb-Wills.
To celebrate this anniversary, enthusiasts from Ramsgate Working History have honoured the lives of twenty-three significant women from the town’s past.
The volunteers, who first got together during the pandemic, help local organisations and businesses with their projects to make the most of Ramsgate’s rich history and heritage for the benefit of the town’s communities and economy.
The group’s new “23 for 23” walking guide, showing important locations around town and brief biographies of the twenty-three women, is now available from the Visitor Information Centre at the Custom House on Harbour Parade.
Women featured include: Dame Janet Stancomb-Wills, Jane Austin, Lady Judith Montefiore, Lady Augusta Murray, Dame Lillian Braithwiate, Jane Pugin, Mary Shelley, Blanche Littler, Elizabeth Gould, Florence Sutton, Elizabeth Fry, Mary Townley, Netta Syrett, Jenny Marx, Sarah Garrow, Winifred Austin and HRH Princess Victoria.
You can also discover more about the women featured and find out about upcoming events celebrating their achievements, by following “Ramsgate23for23” on Facebook.