Harriet Isham Grimwade

Hope House, Foxhall Road, Ipswich

Harriet Isham Grimwade (1843-1893) was Ipswich's first publicly elected woman. She began charitable work in her mid 20s at the Tanners Lane Mission - a centre for poor working-class families.

In 1871 she became secretary of the new Ipswich Women's Suffrage Society. Later she founded the East Suffolk Girls' Home at 14 Church Street (this no longer exists but was near to the Church of St Clement) which expanded in 1883 to accommodate 50 girls at 158 Foxhall Road (Hope House).

Elected onto the School Board in 1880, she served for 6 years during which time she was responsible for cookery classes. She took an active role in the 1885 Great Liberal Demonstration when Liberal candidates spoke before the General Election.

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