Women's history

The women whose notable contributions to history have shaped the world.
 

A plaque on the side of a brick building that reads, 'the Cage mediaeval prison St. Osyth Resident Ursula Kemp was imprisoned here before being hanged as a witch in 1582. It was last used in 1908.'

St Osyth witches: The witch trial that shook a quiet Essex village
The exterior of the historic Shire Hall in the city of Chelmsford in Essex, UK

Chelmsford witch trials: The tragic case of Agnes Waterhouse
Anita Bhagwandas

History's most painful fashion and beauty trends
Black and white tintype of Cynthia Ann Parker in a golden frame

Cynthia Ann Parker and the brave women of the Wild West
Madam C.J Walker

Madam C.J. Walker: History's first female self-made millionaire
Statue of a suffragette holding a banner saying 'COURAGE CALLS TO COURAGE EVERYWHERE'

The suffragette plot to burn down Wimbledon
A marble relief from around the 1st or 2nd century showing two female gladiators fighting

Gladiatrix: Female gladiators in Ancient Rome
Portrait photograph of Sara Forbes Bonetta

Sarah Forbes Bonetta: From slavery to the Queen’s goddaughter
Black and white photograph of Rosalind Franklin looking through a microscope

The remarkable life of Rosalind Franklin
Helen Keller (L) holds Anne Sullivan's (R) hand while she reads a book

The revolutionary life of Helen Keller
Vera Atkins

Vera Atkins: The secret life of a British spy
Valentina Tereshkova portrait photograph in her space suit

Valentina Tereshkova: The first woman in space
Violette Szabo

The short but heroic life of Violette Szabo
Odette Sansom

7 inspirational female spies from World War II
Maj. Charity E. Adams and Capt. Abbie N. Campbell inspect the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion

The untold story of WWII’s all-women postal battalion
Tomoe Gozen Killing Uchida Ieyoshi at Battle of Awazu

8 fearsome female warriors from history 
Maud Gonne

4 forgotten women from history
A colourised print of Mademoiselle Maupin de l'Opéra

The art and lives of 5 LGBT+ women
National League of Women Voters hold up signs reading, 'VOTE', Sept. 17, 1924

Women’s History Month facts: When is Women's History Month 2025?
A portrait of Queen Charlotte with her children

11 facts about Queen Charlotte: Britain's longest reigning female consort
Jacqueline Gold stood in front of an Ann Summers shop

The history of Ann Summers
Violet Jessop

Unsinkable Violet Jessop: Survivor of the Titanic and two other ship disasters
Two female footballers competing for the ball

The modern history of women’s football 
England captain Leah Williamson holds the UEFA Women’s EURO trophy

The greatest British sportswomen of all time 
Ada Lovelace portrait

Brainy British female scientists who changed the world
Portrait of Empress Dowager Cixi

The most powerful women in history 
Joesphine Baker

Josephine Baker: The iconic jazz performer turned WWII hero
Odette Sansom in front of a George Cross Medal

3 women who won the George Cross