Today a blue plaque was unveiled in honour of Hilda Cashmore. The community worker, who campaigned for the establishment of the thriving community hub, was commemorated on International Women’s Day this year at the building she helped set up 112 years ago.
Hilda Cashmore, who already has a building (Cashmore House) and nursery (Cashmore Early Years Centre) named after her in Barton Hill, now also has a blue plaque on Ducie Road at what is now called The Wellspring Settlement. Hilda Cashmore was the only woman to have opened a Settlement community building and managed to do so before women in Britain won the right to vote.
Although she will now be remembered by locals for decades to come, Hilda has remained very much an unsung hero all these years, gaining little recognition despite the contribution she made to the local community. Thanks to local historian Helen Meller and Bristol Radical History Group, the fascinating story of Hilda and the history of what had originally been called ‘The University Settlement’ is now well documented.
