Talk on early Quaker feminist
Quaker activist Priscilla Wakefield was the topic of a recent talk in north London
A leading Quaker feminist and social activist born more than 250 years ago was the subject of a talk at the Bruce Castle Museum in north London. Local history researcher Margaret Burr spoke about Priscilla Wakefield (1751-1832) from Tottenham, who is widely acknowledged for founding the first English savings bank, the Frugality Savings Bank in Tottenham.
The event on 25 March follows a plaque that was renewed last year on the High Cross United Reform Church in Tottenham to mark the 220th anniversary of the Female Benefit Club, which she founded on 22 October 1798. It was installed ten years ago.
The talk highlighted her writing on feminist economics and her work alleviating poverty.
Priscilla Wakefield was actively engaged in social action in Tottenham, including charities for women and children.She founded the Lying-in Charity for Women and the School of Industry for girls, and was actively involved in Quaker campaigns for prison reform and abolishing slavery.
Margaret Burr told the Friend: ‘For me, she has become a heroine, because of what she went through in life. They were wealthy, but through [her husband’s] fecklessness in bad business risks, they lost everything. She only ended up writing books because she could make an income… I am trying to make contact with feminists to help raise awareness of her.’ She said Priscilla Wakefield was one of the first people to recognise the issue of ‘where do women keep their money?’ so it was ‘not just safe from thieves but from family members as well’.
