Virginia Woolf

THE radical Bloomsbury Group was inspired by the local women that came before them, a research project has found. Pascal Theatre Company has embarked on a two-year research project to shine a light on the oft-overlooked trailblazers in Bloomsbury in the 19th century.

Most people have probably heard of the Bloomsbury Set, a culture-defining group consisting of male and female members. Formed in the early 20th century, the group included Virginia Woolf and Vanessa Bell.

In the same century, the Suffragettes campaigned for women’s right to vote. But what about the women that came before them?

Senior researcher and Archway resident Sally Mijit said: “We became very aware of social history and particularly women’s history that was embedded in the area that we didn’t know about.

“So we started doing research and actually the reason that the Bloomsbury Group was there was the strength of what was happening in the area in the 19th century. Bedford College was started as a ladies college in Bedford Street, and that was opened by a woman, Elizabeth Jesser Reid. We found that the London School of Medicine for Women had started there [in Bloomsbury], founded by Sophia Jex-Blake.”

Sally Mijit

She added: “We’re just excited all the time by the women that were so active in that period, despite the odds, despite all the barriers they faced, they were pushing doors which allowed women eventually to access qualifications.”

Ms Mijit said she was most shocked by “the strength and determination which is bolstered by the networking”, which took place in the British Library’s reading room and each other’s houses.

“These women really had strong networks, and they often disagreed with each other while supporting each other or going in different ways, but there were healthy debates, often addressing large audiences,” she added.

“I think that’s what I find interesting is the sharing and working together.”

Based on their research, Pascal Theatre Company, which was set up by the first woman director at the National Theatre Julia Pascal, has done writing, acting, singing and educational workshops at the Edith Neville Primary School, St Pancras Community Association and Bloomsbury Festival.

They are looking for more volunteers and researchers to get involved: https://www.pascal-theatre.com/project/introduction-and-women/