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{{Use British English|date=April 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Laura Annie Willson<br><small>[[Order of the British Empire|MBE]]</small>
| name = Laura Annie Willson<br><small>[[Order of the British Empire|MBE]]</small>
| image = Laura Annie Willson 2.jpg
| image = Laura Annie Willson 2.jpg
| image_size =
| image_size =
| alt = Black and white portrait of Laurie Annie Wilson taken in approximately 1925. She is seated, looking away from the camera, a book in her lap and what is presumed to be here MBE pinned to her dress.
| caption = Laura Anne Willson c.1925
| birth_name = Laura Annie Buckley
| = Laura
| birth_name = Laura Annie Buckley
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1877|08|15}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1877|08|15}}
| birth_place = Halifax, Yorkshire, England
| birth_place = Halifax, Yorkshire, England
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1942|04|17|1877|08|15}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1942|04|17|1877|08|15}}
| death_place = Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England
| death_place = Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England
| death_cause =
| residence =
| =
| residence =
| nationality = British
| nationality = [[United Kingdom|English]]
| other_names =
| education =
| =
| occupation = Engineer, housebuilder, women's rights campaigner
| occupation = Engineer, housebuilder, women's rights campaigner
| known_for =
| known_for =
| salary =
| salary =
| height =
| height =
| weight =
| weight =
| title =
| title =
| term =
| term =
| predecessor =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| successor =
| party =
| party =
| boards =
| boards =
| spouse = George Henry Willson
| spouse = George Henry Willson
| children = George William, Kathleen Vega
| children = George William, Kathleen Vega
| awards =Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
| awards =Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
| ethnicity =
| ethnicity =
| networth =
| networth =
}}
}}


'''Laura Annie Willson''' [[Order of the British Empire|MBE]] (1877–1942) was a British engineer and [[suffragette]], who was twice imprisoned for her political activities. She was one of the founding members of the [[Women's Engineering Society]] and was the first female member of the [[Home Builders Federation|Federation of House Builders]].
'''Laura Annie Willson''' [[Order of the British Empire|MBE]] (1877–1942) was engineer and [[suffragette]], who was twice imprisoned for her political activities. She was one of the founding members of the [[Women's Engineering Society]] and was the first female member of the [[Home Builders Federation|Federation of House Builders]].


== Early life and factory career ==
== Early life and factory career ==
Laura Annie Buckley was born in [[Halifax, West Yorkshire|Halifax]], Yorkshire, in 1877. She started work at the age of ten as a 'half-timer' in a local textile factory.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/research/inclusive-heritage/womens-history/visible-in-stone/biographies/l-z/willson-laura-ann/|title=Willson, Laura Ann|last=|first=|date=|website=Historic England|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref> Half time in factories was introduced to spare children from working a full day; instead they worked half the day and spent the rest of the time at school, which was often built within the factory compound.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=LH30IGx2tlQC&pg=PA111&lpg=PA111&dq=what+is+a+'half+timer'+in+a+factory&source=bl&ots=Twzv54yLYy&sig=ZJEzAqX1H5ZPK8McXvmVp7FZpT0&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjQ7IvanfbQAhUrK8AKHZBoDV0Q6AEILDAD#v=onepage&q=what%20is%20a%20'half%20timer'%20in%20a%20factory&f=false|title=Child Labor: A World History Companion|last=Hobbs|first=Sandy|last2=McKechnie|first2=Jim|last3=Lavalette|first3=Michael|date=1999-01-01|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=9780874369564|language=en}}</ref>
Laura Annie Buckley was born in [[Halifax, West Yorkshire|Halifax]], Yorkshire, . She started work at the age of ten as a 'half-timer' in a local textile factory.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/research/inclusive-heritage/womens-history/visible-in-stone/biographies/l-z/willson-laura-ann/|title=Willson, Laura Ann|last=|first=|date=|website=Historic England|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref> Half time in factories was introduced to spare children from working a full day; instead they worked half the day and spent the rest of the time at school, which was often built within the factory compound.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=LH30IGx2tlQC&pg=PA111&lpg=PA111&dq=what+is+a+'half+timer'+in+a+factory&source=bl&ots=Twzv54yLYy&sig=ZJEzAqX1H5ZPK8McXvmVp7FZpT0&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjQ7IvanfbQAhUrK8AKHZBoDV0Q6AEILDAD#v=onepage&q=what%20is%20a%20'half%20timer'%20in%20a%20factory&f=false|title=Child Labor: A World History Companion|last=Hobbs|first=Sandy|last2=McKechnie|first2=Jim|last3=Lavalette|first3=Michael|date=1999-01-01|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=9780874369564|language=en}}</ref>


When she married George Henry Willson in 1899, Laura Annie was described as a worsted coating weaver. Her husband was a maker of machine tools who established a successful engineering works in Halifax, which Laura Annie would help to run.
When she married George Henry Willson in 1899, was described as a worsted coating weaver. Her husband was a maker of machine tools who established a successful engineering works in Halifax, which would help to run.


She became strongly involved in the [[Trade union|Trade Union]] movement, becoming branch secretary of the [[Women's Labour League]] in Halifax in 1907.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=e6wICgAAQBAJ&pg=PT308&lpg=PT308&dq=Laura+Wilson+suffragette&source=bl&ots=XamiB8NMvD&sig=4W6cxJGWWAH76vgANceJ0ystwNc&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiwlrS4tvbQAhVpCcAKHVZTA9IQ6AEILDAD#v=onepage&q=Laura%20Wilson%20&f=false|title=Rebel Girls: How votes for women changed Edwardian lives|last=Liddington|first=Jill|date=2015-09-03|publisher=Little, Brown Book Group|isbn=9780349007816|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=iTnXdlutlVsC&pg=PA159&lpg=PA159&dq=Laura+Ann+Willson&source=bl&ots=kI7WfObo9n&sig=eey6GT8aNLAUB6f0uG-1J53_zxw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi66KvnrNrPAhWKBsAKHS48AeoQ6AEIMTAE#v=onepage&q=Laura%20Ann%20Willson&f=false|title=Women, A Modern Political Dictionary|last=Law|first=Cheryl|date=2000-01-01|publisher=I.B.Tauris|isbn=9781860645020|language=en}}</ref> She was also a secretary of the Halifax branch of the [[Women's Social and Political Union]] which formed in January 1906.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=4Ul8t9xycqcC&pg=PA48&lpg=PA48&dq=wspu+laura+wilson&source=bl&ots=Qh2Vsh_uaf&sig=JGnXWecJoY4LkPOi5J4bykxePak&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi6-6znuvbQAhXBI8AKHVIfAxkQ6AEILDAE#v=onepage&q=wspu%20laura%20wilson&f=false|title=The Women's Suffrage Movement in Britain and Ireland: A Regional Survey|last=Crawford|first=Elizabeth|date=2016-12-15|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=9780415383325|language=en}}</ref>
She became strongly involved in the [[ union]] movement, becoming branch secretary of the [[Women's Labour League]] in Halifax in 1907.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=e6wICgAAQBAJ&pg=PT308&lpg=PT308&dq=Laura+Wilson+suffragette&source=bl&ots=XamiB8NMvD&sig=4W6cxJGWWAH76vgANceJ0ystwNc&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiwlrS4tvbQAhVpCcAKHVZTA9IQ6AEILDAD#v=onepage&q=Laura%20Wilson%20&f=false|title=Rebel Girls: How votes for women changed Edwardian lives|last=Liddington|first=Jill|date=2015-09-03|publisher=Little, Brown Book Group|isbn=9780349007816|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=iTnXdlutlVsC&pg=PA159&lpg=PA159&dq=Laura+Ann+Willson&source=bl&ots=kI7WfObo9n&sig=eey6GT8aNLAUB6f0uG-1J53_zxw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi66KvnrNrPAhWKBsAKHS48AeoQ6AEIMTAE#v=onepage&q=Laura%20Ann%20Willson&f=false|title=Women, A Modern Political Dictionary|last=Law|first=Cheryl|date=2000-01-01|publisher=I.B.Tauris|isbn=9781860645020|language=en}}</ref> She was also a secretary of the Halifax branch of the [[Women's Social and Political Union]] which formed in January 1906.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=4Ul8t9xycqcC&pg=PA48&lpg=PA48&dq=wspu+laura+wilson&source=bl&ots=Qh2Vsh_uaf&sig=JGnXWecJoY4LkPOi5J4bykxePak&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi6-6znuvbQAhXBI8AKHVIfAxkQ6AEILDAE#v=onepage&q=wspu%20laura%20wilson&f=false|title=The Women's Suffrage Movement in Britain and Ireland: A Regional Survey|last=Crawford|first=Elizabeth|date=2016-12-15|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=9780415383325|language=en}}</ref>


In 1907, she was imprisoned for her behaviour after taking part in a weavers' strike and a few weeks later she was arrested with dozens of others after demonstrating for the suffragettes at [[Caxton Hall]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://unbound.com/books/mw/updates/laura-annie-willson-mbe-suffragette-and-house-builder|title=Laura Annie Willson MBE: suffragette and house-builder|website=Unbound|language=en|access-date=2019-04-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/rd/ee5a777f-1d7c-416b-a249-c7cb64fcc0a8|title=Roll of Honour of Suffragette Prisoners 1905–1914|last=|first=|date=|website=National Archives|publisher=|access-date=14 October 2016}}</ref> She claimed to be the first suffragette to be placed in a Yorkshire jail.<ref name=":1" />
In 1907, she was imprisoned for her behaviour after taking part in a weavers' strike and a few weeks later she was arrested with dozens of others after demonstrating for the suffragettes at [[Caxton Hall]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://unbound.com/books/mw/updates/laura-annie-willson-mbe-suffragette-and-house-builder|title=Laura Annie Willson MBE: suffragette and house-builder|website=Unbound|language=en|access-date=2019-04-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/rd/ee5a777f-1d7c-416b-a249-c7cb64fcc0a8|title=Roll of Honour of Suffragette Prisoners 1905–1914|last=|first=|date=|website=National Archives|publisher=|access-date=14 October 2016}}</ref> She claimed to be the first suffragette to be placed in a Yorkshire jail.<ref name=":1" />


During the First World War, she was manager of the women's section of her husband's [[lathe]]-making factory, for which she was awarded an MBE in 1918.<ref name=":0" />
During World War she was manager of the women's section of her husband's [[lathe]]-making factory, for which she was awarded an MBE in 1918.<ref name=":0" />


== Engineering career ==
== Engineering career ==
[[File:Laura Annie Willson houses in Jumples.jpg|thumb|Advert for Laura Annie Willson houses in Jumples]]
[[File:Laura Annie Willson houses in Jumples.jpg|thumb|Advert for Laura Annie Willson houses in Jumples]]
In 1919, she co-founded the [[Women's Engineering Society]] (WES) with [[Rachel Parsons (engineer)|Rachel Parsons]], [[Margaret, Lady Moir]] and others.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=iABRp1a7RMAC&pg=PA57&lpg=PA57&dq=wspu+laura+willson&source=bl&ots=XN5eNjG8Eh&sig=KvFGx4ctPNXNjN-UFY8u7khev4A&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjQ1_TOvvbQAhXIJcAKHcVKCPoQ6AEINjAF#v=onepage&q=laura%20willson&f=false|title=Suffrage and Power: The Women's Movement 1918–1928|last=Law|first=Cheryl|date=2000-04-22|publisher=I.B.Tauris|isbn=9781860644788|language=en}}</ref> The aim of WES was to protect the positions that women had gained in industry during the First World War, and to promote equal opportunities for women in engineering. She was president of WES from 1926 to 1928.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wes.org.uk/content/presidents-past-present|title=Presidents Past & Present {{!}} Women's Engineering Society|website=www.wes.org.uk|access-date=2016-12-15}}</ref>
In 1919, she co-founded the [[Women's Engineering Society]] (WES) with [[Rachel Parsons (engineer)|Rachel Parsons]], [[Margaret, Lady Moir]] and others.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=iABRp1a7RMAC&pg=PA57&lpg=PA57&dq=wspu+laura+willson&source=bl&ots=XN5eNjG8Eh&sig=KvFGx4ctPNXNjN-UFY8u7khev4A&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjQ1_TOvvbQAhXIJcAKHcVKCPoQ6AEINjAF#v=onepage&q=laura%20willson&f=false|title=Suffrage and Power: The Women's Movement 1918–1928|last=Law|first=Cheryl|date=2000-04-22|publisher=I.B.Tauris|isbn=9781860644788|language=en}}</ref> The aim of WES was to protect the positions that women had gained in industry during World War, and to promote equal opportunities for women in engineering. She was president of WES from 1926 to 1928.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wes.org.uk/content/presidents-past-present|title=Presidents Past & Present {{!}} Women's Engineering Society|website=www.wes.org.uk|access-date=2016-12-15}}</ref>


She became the first woman member of the Federation of House Builders,<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/research/inclusive-heritage/womens-history/visible-in-stone/architects-builders-garden-cities/|title=Architects, Builders and Garden Cities {{!}} Historic England|last=England|first=Historic|website=historicengland.org.uk|access-date=2016-12-15}}</ref> constructing 72 houses for workers in Halifax in 1925–26.<ref name=":0" /> She was a founding member of the Electrical Association for Women in 1924, alongside [[Caroline Haslett]];<ref name=":2" /> this interest was reflected in her housing estates which had the latest gas and electricity appliances.<ref name=":3" /> In 1927, having moved to Surrey from Halifax with her husband, Willson continued her trade as a builder by purchasing land at [[Englefield Green]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.exploringsurreyspast.org.uk/collections/getrecord/SHCOL_8433|title=News - Exploring Surrey's Past|website=www.exploringsurreyspast.org.uk|access-date=2016-12-15}}</ref>
She became the first woman member of the Federation of House Builders,<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/research/inclusive-heritage/womens-history/visible-in-stone/architects-builders-garden-cities/|title=Architects, Builders and Garden Cities {{!}} Historic England|last=England|first=Historic|website=historicengland.org.uk|access-date=2016-12-15}}</ref> constructing 72 houses for workers in Halifax in 1925–26.<ref name=":0" /> She was a founding member of the Electrical Association for Women in 1924, alongside [[Caroline Haslett]];<ref name=":2" /> this interest was reflected in her housing estates which had the latest gas and electricity appliances.<ref name=":3" /> In 1927, having moved to Surrey from Halifax with her husband, Willson continued her trade as a builder by purchasing land at [[Englefield Green]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.exploringsurreyspast.org.uk/collections/getrecord/SHCOL_8433|title=News - Exploring Surrey's Past|website=www.exploringsurreyspast.org.uk|access-date=2016-12-15}}</ref>

Revision as of 19:59, 2 January 2020

Laura Annie Willson
MBE
Black and white portrait of Laurie Annie Wilson taken in approximately 1925. She is seated, looking away from the camera, a book in her lap and what is presumed to be here MBE pinned to her dress.
Laura Anne Willson c.1925
Born
Laura Annie Buckley

(1877-08-15)15 August 1877
Halifax, Yorkshire, England
Died17 April 1942(1942-04-17) (aged 64)
Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England
NationalityEnglish
Occupation(s)Engineer, housebuilder, women's rights campaigner
SpouseGeorge Henry Willson
ChildrenGeorge William, Kathleen Vega
AwardsMember of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Laura Annie Willson MBE (15 August 1877–1942) was an English engineer and suffragette, who was twice imprisoned for her political activities. She was one of the founding members of the Women's Engineering Society and was the first female member of the Federation of House Builders.

Early life and factory career

Laura Annie Buckley was born on 15 August 1877 in Halifax, Yorkshire on to Augusta née Leaver (1838/9–1907) and Charles Buckley (1836/7–1899), dyer’s labourer.[1] She started work at the age of ten as a 'half-timer' in a local textile factory.[2] Half time in factories was introduced to spare children from working a full day; instead they worked half the day and spent the rest of the time at school, which was often built within the factory compound.[3]

When she married George Henry Willson in 1899, she was described as a worsted coating weaver. Her husband was a maker of machine tools who established a successful engineering works in Halifax, which she would help to run.

She became strongly involved in the trade union movement, becoming branch secretary of the Women's Labour League in Halifax in 1907.[4][5] She was also a secretary of the Halifax branch of the Women's Social and Political Union which formed in January 1906.[6]

In 1907, she was imprisoned for her behaviour after taking part in a weavers' strike, and a few weeks later she was arrested with dozens of others after demonstrating for the suffragettes at Caxton Hall.[7][8] She claimed to be the first suffragette to be placed in a Yorkshire jail.[4]

During World War I she was manager of the women's section of her husband's lathe-making factory, for which she was awarded an MBE in 1918.[5]

Engineering career

Advert for Laura Annie Willson houses in Jumples

In 1919, she co-founded the Women's Engineering Society (WES) with Rachel Parsons, Margaret, Lady Moir and others.[9] The aim of WES was to protect the positions that women had gained in industry during World War I, and to promote equal opportunities for women in engineering. She was president of WES from 1926 to 1928.[10]

She became the first woman member of the Federation of House Builders,[11] constructing 72 houses for workers in Halifax in 1925–26.[5] She was a founding member of the Electrical Association for Women in 1924, alongside Caroline Haslett;[2] this interest was reflected in her housing estates which had the latest gas and electricity appliances.[11] In 1927, having moved to Surrey from Halifax with her husband, Willson continued her trade as a builder by purchasing land at Englefield Green.[12]

References

  1. ^ Heald, Henrietta (12 July 2018). Willson [née Buckley], Laura Annie (1877–1942), suffragette, engineer, and businesswoman. Vol. 1. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/odnb/9780198614128.013.107536.
  2. ^ a b "Willson, Laura Ann". Historic England.
  3. ^ Hobbs, Sandy; McKechnie, Jim; Lavalette, Michael (1 January 1999). Child Labor: A World History Companion. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9780874369564.
  4. ^ a b Liddington, Jill (3 September 2015). Rebel Girls: How votes for women changed Edwardian lives. Little, Brown Book Group. ISBN 9780349007816.
  5. ^ a b c Law, Cheryl (1 January 2000). Women, A Modern Political Dictionary. I.B.Tauris. ISBN 9781860645020.
  6. ^ Crawford, Elizabeth (15 December 2016). The Women's Suffrage Movement in Britain and Ireland: A Regional Survey. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9780415383325.
  7. ^ "Laura Annie Willson MBE: suffragette and house-builder". Unbound. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
  8. ^ "Roll of Honour of Suffragette Prisoners 1905–1914". National Archives. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  9. ^ Law, Cheryl (22 April 2000). Suffrage and Power: The Women's Movement 1918–1928. I.B.Tauris. ISBN 9781860644788.
  10. ^ "Presidents Past & Present | Women's Engineering Society". www.wes.org.uk. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  11. ^ a b England, Historic. "Architects, Builders and Garden Cities | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  12. ^ "News - Exploring Surrey's Past". www.exploringsurreyspast.org.uk. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
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