Women in Wolverhampton's History

Women at Home | 1 | 2 |

The 1909 Housing Act allowed for local councils to carry out town planning schemes. One of the schemes in Wolverhampton for the building of council owned houses was at Green Lane (Birmingham Road) and Cartwright Street.

Wolverhampton's first council houses, Birmingham Road, built 1902 (L2/BIR/3/3)

In 1908 a Model Housing Exhibition took place at Fallings Park. Over fifty houses were built, but the estate was never completed due partly to the outbreak of the First World War.

Click on the image to enlarge
Extract from Model Housing Exhibition, 1908 (L3391)

Following the end of the First World War and throughout much of the 20th century the council pursued a policy of building homes for rent. Estates have been built at Birches Barn, Low Hill, Northwood Park, Merry Hill and many other places.

Some of the newer housing developments had their own medical facilities. An example of a clinic is shown below:

Low Hill Clinic, Park Lane, c.1950 (J3/LOW/E/1))

Other improvements for women in the home included the provision of a regular water supply piped to the home, a town gas supply (founded 1880), and later electricity for heating and lighting.

Wolverhampton Gas Showrooms, Darlington Street, Wolverhampton,1939 (H6/WOL/E/1)

Gas cookers, gas boilers and later, electric cookers, vacuum cleaners, kettles and toasters all helped to ease the tasks of washing clothes and household furnishings, cooking and cleaning.

Extract from Wolverhampton Journal April 1908, page 107, advising women on how to use gas for cooking

It can be argued that the supply of these utilities helped to relieve women of some of the physical labours connected with their homes. It also helped to give them more time to pursue activities outside of the home.

Interior of Electrical Showrooms, c.1939 (H8/ELE/I/2)

The picture above shows a display of vacuum cleaners, electric fires, toasters and lamp shades at the electrical showrooms where customers could inspect the goods before buying.

Activities such as politics and the arts, previously the reserve of the upper classes, began to become more available to women.

Along with improved housing and household appliances, some of the other improvements for the lives of women were centred around health and birth control. To find out more click on the next button.

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