Local tour guide Jonathan Wober of London On The Ground describes how he created two women’s history walks, both of which are scheduled in Women’s History Month this March.
When I started guiding a few years ago I noticed that the protagonists in most of the stories I was telling were male, representing only half of human history. This suggested significant potential to tell the under-represented stories of the other half. So, when a women’s group at a firm in the City approached me to devise a short walk relating female narratives in the Square Mile, I welcomed the opportunity.
At first, as a man, I suffered from a mild case of impostor syndrome. Then I reminded myself that the role of the tour guide (like the BBC’s) is to inform, educate and entertain, regardless of my or my subjects’ gender. After all, a group of women had asked me to lead the tour for them.
Spurred on by the success of the walk (they even asked me to do a second one), I developed it into a full two hour version, ‘Groundbreaking Women in the City’.
It tells the tales of remarkable women spanning the history of the City of London, from the first century to the 21st. They include queens and thieves, publishers and poets, artists and rebels, business executives and socialites.
One of my favourites is the woman described as Britain’s “greatest living stone sculptor”, who explains her art as “Nature’s bidding”. She is clearly inspired by the living rock, but she herself once inspired an early rock song by Pink Floyd.
Another is the 18th century pickpocket who posed as a pregnant mother, with false arms across her false belly, to rob those sitting next to her of their expensive watches. Intelligent, dextrous and charismatic, she rose from novice to lead her gang of thieves in a couple of years.
Developing my first women’s history walk inspired me to create a new one ‘Groundbreaking Women of Islington’, telling more stories that are less often heard. It includes women from the 16th century to the present day, who made significant contributions to philanthropy, politics, literature, sport, leisure, community activities, music, film, theatre and the arts.
Examples include one of London’s most significant theatre managers, who ran organisations which evolved into the English National Opera, the National Theatre and the Royal Ballet. There is also Britain’s first feminist bookshop, Islington’s first woman mayor and the 19th century humanitarian known as ‘The Emigrants’ Friend’, also called ‘The Mother of Australia” by her biographer.
Both walks last around two hours and are priced at £15 per person.
Groundbreaking Women in the City is on Saturday 1 March at 11am.
Groundbreaking Women of Islington is on Saturday 8 March at 2.30pm, its first ever outing.
For full details and booking, please go to https://www.londonontheground.com/
