First Female Graduates Blue Plaque Unveiled

The women were part of The College of St Hild, now part of the College of St Hild and St Bede, where the plaque was unveiled on Saturday (19 November 2022). All three were successful in attaining their degrees and Winifred Hindmarch went on to become a celebrated member of staff at St Hild's.

The installation of the plaque was instigated by the Women’s Banner Group formed in 2017 with a view to providing a space for women in the historic Durham Miners’ Gala. Its research highlighted many female firsts at Durham, including:

• 1881 - women admitted to Durham for the first time
• 1895 - Ella Mary Bryant is the first female graduate to receive a degree, but her matriculation is not allowed
• 1899 - First all-female college opened
• 1914 - Kathleen Lambley becomes first female lecturer
• 1936 - First female PhD awarded to Clara Enid Robinson
• 1971 - Rosemary Cramp becomes first female Professor and first female Head of Department. Born in 1929 she is still an active emeritus professor in the Department of Archaeology
• Also 1971 - first ‘mixed’ college opened
• 1973 - Durham appoints first female Dean, Mary Holdsworth
• 1981 - Dame Margot Fonteyn becomes first (and so far only) female Chancellor
• 2022 - Professor Karen O'Brien appointed first female Vice-Chancellor and Warden

The Women’s Banner Group embarked on a mission in 2018 when they discovered there were no blue plaques commemorating women in County Durham, but over 30 for men and buildings. Thanks to them, today there are now eight blue plaques remembering women, with more to come.

In addition to the unveiling, two St Hild & St Bede students, Courtney Power and Laura Wildgoose, researched the history of the three graduates in the wider context of the women of St Hild’s College. They created information displays on their findings which were launched at the unveiling on 19 November. The College of St Hild & St Bede is planning a further display and exhibition of artifacts associated with St Hild’s College in 2023.

Blue Plaques

A blue plaque is a permanent historical marker displayed in a public place to commemorate notable people, events, or buildings. Blue plaques across the UK were inspired by the original scheme in London founded in 1866 by English Heritage. 

Find out more

• Discover more about the history of the College of St Hild and St Bede 
• Read more about blue plaques in the city of Durham