Blue plaque recognising Ada Nield Chew unveiled in recognition of Crewe’s past and celebration of its future

A stunning blue plaque was unveiled yesterday by the Mayor of Crewe, Councillor Sally Graham, and students from Crewe Engineering and Design UTC to commemorate the suffragist and women’s rights campaigner, Ada Nield Chew.

The plaque has been installed on a beautiful custom-made plinth which has been designed by students at Crewe Engineering and Design UTC. Four all-female teams submitted designs for the plinth and the final design is an amalgamation of two of those designs. The bobbin and needle details represent Ada’s position as a tailor at Compton’s Clothing Factory in the 1890’s.

The wonderful students of the Crewe Engineering and Design UTC have created a beautiful and fitting memorial to Ada which draws on her life to tell her story. They were responsible for designing and project managing the delivery of the stunning plinth the plaque now sits on.

At the plaque unveiling, Ada was given recognition for speaking out at her own personal cost, to support women and girls who often had no voice. In acknowledging her efforts with a Blue Plaque, we are ensuring people remember her name and hopefully find out more about her. Thanks to campaigning by people like Ada, we now have women in full time education who are actively learning and applying the skills she was fighting for and the plaque will be a lasting tribute to the progress made.

Securing this plaque has been a process and Crewe Town Council would like to thank the South Cheshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry for allowing the plaque to be sited at Bridle Road, in front of the factory. Will Chitty, Principal of the Crewe Engineering and Design UTC facilitated the plinth design process and Chris Geddes, Director of Area Welding Services Ltd was responsible for bringing the plinth to life from the students’ design.

About Ada

In May 1894 Ada Nield Chew began writing to the Crewe Chronicle about the conditions at the factory, signing her letters as “A Crewe Factory Girl”. Her letters give are a small glimpse into the lives of Victorian working class women. She criticised the conditions that women and girls were expected to work in, noting they were charged for tea breaks and expected to work long hours to earn 8 shillings a week, around £33 a week today.

Ada had to leave Compton’s when she was unmasked as the Crewe Factory Girl. She went on to join the Independent Labour Party and worked with the Local Trades Council, as well as actively supporting the women’s suffrage movement. However, she often criticised the Women’s Social and Political Union for not looking to secure votes for middle class women.

Crewe Town Council has created a number of heritage resources (suitable for use in Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stages 1 and 2) about the ‘Crewe Factory Girl’, which includes transcripts of Ada’s letters, images, newspaper articles and a video. The resources can be found here:

www.crewetowncouncil.gov.uk/council-services-2/crewe-heritage/heritage-resources/

A Crewe Town Council spokesperson commented:

“The unveiling of Ada’s blue plaque is an important day for Crewe and one that has been five years in the making. In celebrating Ada’s contributions to furthering the rights of women, as well as the skills and future potential of the students from Crewe Engineering and Design UTC, we are proud that this project has brought the community together.”

Will Chitty, Principal at Crewe Engineering and Design UTC stated:

"We are were so excited to finally unveil Ada's plaque which is set on the students' beautifully designed and manufactured plinth. The needle and bobbin design features line drawings which depict important aspects of Ada's life.”

“It is wonderful that the students will be able to lay claim to an important landmark in our town for years to come. I am so proud that the collaboration between Crewe UTC, the Town Council and Area Welding has produced such a fitting monument to an incredible woman."