The Hidden Half - Women in Wolverhampton's History

For a timeline of events c.935 - 1984 Click here

For a list of sources for further study available at
Archives & Local Studies Click here

For questions to use in the classroom Click here

These pages concentrate on the following areas of activity:

• Women in Politics
• Women in the Arts
• Women at Work
• Women at Home
• Women's Health
• Women's Education

In the past history has tended to be a man's thing, written by men about men.

The feminist movement of the latter part of the twentieth century saw a change in the study of history: women writing about women.

These pages look at women's role in the history of our city. Wolverhampton women: some famous, some not so famous, though all equally important to the history of the city.

Playing a key role in the development of Wolverhampton, women's activities have been less well documented than those of men. In fact it is generally accepted that a woman founded Wolverhampton. From its earliest beginnings to the present women have been involved, sometimes as leaders and sometimes as followers, but always there.

Any history of women in Wolverhampton must begin with its founder.

Lady Wulfruna c. 935-1005, Founder of the City

Statue of Lady Wulfruna, Wolverhampton, 2001

Lady Wulfruna, or Wulfrun to use the correct Anglo-Saxon pronunciation of her name, is believed to have been the grand-daughter of King Ethelred I and Queen Aethelflaed (daughter of King Alfred the Great).

The earliest reference to Wulfrun is in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles for 943AD. The chronicles state that Lady Wulfruna was taken prisoner following a raid at Tamworth, Staffordshire. There is not however any record of her release.

The next reference to her is in a land charter of 985 in which King Ethelred II (Ethelred the Unready), granted to Wulfrun ten hides of land at Heatune. It is believed that Heantune (or High Town) later became known as Wulfruna's Heantune, hence the name Wolver...hampton.

In 994 Wulfrun gave ten cassati of land for the endowment of a church at a place called Heantune.

As with most things concerning Lady Wulfrun there is uncertainty about the date of her death. A reference however can be found in a charter to Ensham Monastery dated 1005 which states that Wulfrun bequested land at Ramsey, "being at her last breath".

In 1894 Wolverhampton Borough Council adopted the name Wulfruna, it being the Latin variation of her name.

© Copyright. Wolverhampton City Council, 2002