Social Impact / Blue plaque
‘Pioneering’ local activist honoured with blue plaque
The pioneering work of local activist and educator Hilda Cashmore has been commemorated in a brand-new blue plaque.
The plaque was unveiled at the Wellspring Settlement in Barton Hill on International Women’s Day as an homage to her extraordinary life.
Cashmore was born in Bristol in 1876 and dedicated herself to addressing social problems faced by poorer people in her community.
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Most notably, she was the founder of the Barton Hill Settlement, a community centre which still exists today as the Wellspring Settlement on Ducie Road, following a merger with the Wellspring Healthy Living Centre.
The pioneering work of local activist and educator Hilda Cashmore has been commemorated on a brand-new blue plaque – photo: Isabelle McIntyre
Following her efforts to establish the settlement through negotiation with local government authorities, Cashmore then spent 15 years tirelessly working as the settlement’s first warden. Her vision for a resident-led urban community centre lives on today, and her ethos of helping people help themselves is at the core of her legacy.
As an extremely self-effacing individual, Cashmore is not a household name.
However, her other achievements are just as worthy of recognition. From lecturing at the Women’s Day Training College, to joining the Quaker War Victims Relief expedition in 1914 and 1920, the social worker has helped improve the quality of life for people as local as Barton Hill to as far-flung as Uttar Pradesh, India.
The Bristolian woman has contributed a huge amount to civic life, inspiring a radical shift in community development. On International Woman’s Day, she was remembered as a feminist figure for her incredible achievements, such as being appointed as the first female president of the Federation of Residential Settlements.
Helen Meller and Trish Mensah, of the Bristol Radical History Group, along with Beth Wilson, the new CEO of Wellspring Settlement unveiled Hilda’s blue plaque on Tuesday, March 7 to formally recognise and celebrate the local legend.
The Wellspring Settlement runs activities to improve the health and mental wellbeing of the community, offers assistance and advice for financial matters, provides a social space to meet other local residents, and has regular drop in sessions for employment support.
Anne Joslin, a local resident and member of the Wellspring Settlement Board of Trustees, also took a moment to highlight the importance of Hilda Cashmore’s work – photo: Isabelle McIntyre
Since the Bristol Blue Plaque Scheme became the responsibility of the Bristol Civic Society in 2015, the organisation has administered 12 blue plaques for women – making up a third of their 36 blue plaque installations.
Hilda Cashmore’s blue plaque now decorates Joan Johnson House at Wellspring Settlement to remember her extraordinary contribution to social services and the local community.
All photos: Isabelle McIntyre
Read more:
- Commemorating Bristol’s little-known radical woman
- New plaque to commemorate first women priests ordained at Bristol Cathedral
- Bristol Women’s Voice announces International Women’s Day programme
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