A BRADFORD suffragette is the first woman to be honoured in Bradford Council’s new street-naming campaign.

  • Lillian Armitage, born in 1885, actively campaigned for women’s right to vote – and was briefly imprisoned.

The Bradford Pioneering Lasses campaign focuses on improving the gender balance around the district when it comes to publicly honouring historical figures.

A list has been drawn up by representatives from Bradford Council and Bradford Civic Society of women from the district who have historical importance to specific places.

The names will be checked against all future housing to be considered for street naming in the area where they made their contributions.

A development on the corner of Green Lane and Lumb Lane, Bradford, will be named Lillian Armitage Close. This is set to be confirmed by councillors at the Bradford West Area Committee on Wednesday, June 19.

Lillian Armitage, a former teacher in the Bradford Socialist Sunday school, was part of a cohort that attempted to enter the House of Commons and as a result was arrested on February 14, 1907.

At her trial she was found guilty and ordered to serve 14 days in prison. Her name is on the Roll of Honour of Suffragette Prisoners. When Lillian was arrested she was the Secretary of the Women’s Social and Political Union – a faction of the suffragette movement based in Bradford which had its base at 61 Manningham Lane.

An exhibition showing photographs of pioneering women from Bradford’s past will be held at Bradford City Hall as part of the initiative.

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, portfolio holder for Better Health, Better Lives, said: “I work in City Hall most days and while there are rightly many pictures of the old industrialists and aldermen who helped shape our district. These are, by and large, male figures. This exhibition offers the chance to redress this balance and promote more of our district’s pioneering ‘lasses’.

“By raising the profile of our Pioneering Lasses in Bradford we hope to inspire young women across the district to go on and make their own history.”

A pop-up version of the exhibition will be on tour at schools and community venues over the next year, starting with Belle Vue Girls’ Academy from today until Friday, July 19.

Kirkgate Market will host the exhibition from July 22 to August 16, it will be at Oastler Market between August 16 and September 13 and at St George’s Hall for its heritage open day on September 14. The exhibition will then be at Keighley Market from September 17 to October 11.