CWA’s Herstory Walk — Leg 2
Continuing our virtual tour of Cardiff’s historical feminist sites.
By Ellena Jenks (volunteer at Cardiff Women’s Aid)
Welcome to our second blog post as we take a (virtual) walk around Cardiff to mark the 50th anniversary of Cardiff Women’s Aid.
Stop number three is…
The Betty Campbell Statue, Central Square, City Centre.
In 2019 the BBC ran a ‘hidden heroes’ vote to determine who Wales’ first statue of a named woman should resemble. Betty Campbell won the vote and the statue was unveiled in 2021. Betty was born in 1934 in Tiger Bay and was one of the first women to train as a teacher when the Cardiff Teacher Training College admitted women for the first time in 1960. She made history by becoming the first black headteacher in Wales. Betty continued to champion equality by volunteering to sit on race relations committees and councils throughout her life. Sadly, Betty died in 2017 so did not live to see the monument. However her legacy lives on and she remains a positive role model for the community and country. She once said “if you’re determined to do something, you will do it. And I think my life has been full of determinations”.
Betty Campbell was a truly inspirational figure. You can read more about the statue and Betty herself here.
Did you know?
Now, onto stop number four! …
The Old Library, The Hayes, City Centre.
This historic building opened in 1882 in the heart of the city centre. The 1850 Public Libraries Act encouraged councils to provide free libraries and this library was built to be a “grand and commanding” new space in Cardiff. Although libraries were often viewed as male spaces with gendered reading rooms, the ability to enter the library for free nonetheless opened access to reading for many people. Being able to read books without purchasing them meant that women could expand their knowledge of the world on their own terms.
The building was reopened by the Prince and Princess of Wales in 1896, the first time news was captured on film in Britain. The site has been used by the Cardiff Story Museum since 2011 and has been leased to the Welsh College of Music and Drama since 2021.
Did you know?
You can visit the museum for free between 10am and 4pm Monday-Saturday to learn about local history and attend events.
Libraries have played an important role in the emancipation of women. To read more about the history of women and libraries, check out this article.
This post is the second in a series focusing on different feminist and historically relevant sites around Cardiff to mark Cardiff Women’s Aid’s 50th anniversary. Follow our blog to see where we visit next.
