22 Inspiring Women from Lancashire and Yorkshire to Celebrate International Women’s Day

From suffragettes to trailblazers, northern women have been breaking barriers and making history for centuries. This International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating remarkable women from Yorkshire and Lancashire—pioneers who paved the way and those who continue their legacy. Here’s to the strength and spirit of northern lasses!

Yorkshire

1. Dame Judi Dench (Heworth, York) 1934-

“We get up in the morning. We do our best. Nothing else matters.”

A Yorkshire lass through and through, Dame Judi Dench’s talent shone brightly on stages and screens worldwide. From Shakespeare to James Bond, she’s won more awards than you can shake a stick at. First female member of the Garrick Club, too—breaking barriers while keeping Yorkshire grit at heart.

2. Dame Barbara Hepworth (Wakefield) 1903-1975

“Perhaps what one wants to say is formed in childhood and the rest of one’s life is spent trying to say it. I know that all I felt during the early years of my life in Yorkshire is dynamic and constant in my life today.”

From Wakefield to the world, Dame Barbara Hepworth carved her name in history as a modernist sculptor. Her work is bold, her spirit fierce, and she even found beauty in the operating theatre. The Hepworth Museum stands proud in her hometown, a lasting tribute to this Yorkshire powerhouse of creativity.

3. Emily Brontë (Thornton/Haworth) 1818-1848

“I wish I were a girl again, half savage and hardy and free… Why am I so changed? I’m sure I should be myself were I once among the heather on those hills.”

A quiet Yorkshire lass with a wild imagination, Emily Brontë penned Wuthering Heights, one of the greatest novels ever written. She captured the moors’ raw beauty and fierce emotions like no other. Though she lived a short life, her legacy looms large, rooted firmly in the heart of Yorkshire.

4. Helen Sharman (Sheffield) 1963

“We should be pushing our boundaries. After all, we Britons are explorers and adventurers.”

First Brit in space? That’s Helen Sharman, another Sheffield lass. She swapped Yorkshire for the stars, making history as a chemist turned astronaut. Helen’s journey inspires us all to dream big and aim higher, as high as the cosmos.

5. Anne Lister (Halifax) 1791 – 1840

“I love and only love the fairer sex and thus beloved by them in turn, my heart revolts from any love but theirs.”

Born in Halifax in 1791, Anne Lister was a pioneering Yorkshire woman who defied the norms of her time. A landowner and businesswoman, she managed Shibden Hall and documented her life in detailed diaries, many written in code. Known as “the first modern lesbian,” her courage and openness have made her a key figure in LGBTQ+ history.

6. Mel B (Leeds) 1975

“I’m Northern and say what I think and feel.”

Born in Leeds, Melanie Brown, known as Mel B, became a global icon as “Scary Spice” in the Spice Girls. After leaving an abusive marriage, Mel has also advocated for domestic abuse survivors as a patron of Women’s Aid. With her bold personality and powerful voice, Mel B championed individuality and empowerment by embodying girl power.

7. Cartimandua, Queen of the Brigantes (Ancient Yorkshire) c. 43 – 69

“The Romans are reet enough; it’s the husband I’ve got a right problem wi’!” – Cartimandua, probably. 

Yorkshire’s own Boudicca, Cartimandua, was a powerful queen of the Brigantes tribe in what is now Yorkshire during Roman Britain. Known for her political acumen, she allied with the Romans to maintain her kingdom’s strength and successfully put down multiple revolts including some led by her ex-husband. Unfortunately, her husband’s last attempt to overthrow her was successful, and she disappears from sources following her evacuation from Yorkshire.

8. Hannah Hauxwell (Baldersdale) 1926 – 2018

“I am happier through that iron gate than in my own fields. The beauty – to me there’s nowhere like it, never will be. And whatever I am, wherever I am, this is me. This is my life.” 

Hannah Hauxwell captured hearts as the subject of documentaries showing her solitary life in the Yorkshire Dales without electricity or running water. The programme, Too Long a Winter, captured the endurance of farmers in the High Pennines amidst grim northern weather. Her resilience in harsh conditions and her quiet dignity became a symbol of Northern grit and simplicity. She reminded the world of the beauty of a humble life.

9. Sally Wainwright (Huddersfield) 1963

“I do find women more interesting, they’re more heroic. Things don’t come as easily to them or they’re questioned more, doubted more. They have to put themselves out there more.”

From Huddersfield, Sally Wainwright is a BAFTA-winning writer behind Happy Valley, Last Tango in Halifax, and Gentleman Jack. Her gripping dramas, often set in her native West Yorkshire, showcase strong women and complex characters, bringing Northern stories to global audiences.

10. Flora Sandes (York) 1876-1956

“If they think a woman can’t handle a hammer, they’d best wait ‘til I’ve finished building this tank!” – Flora, probably.

Flora Sandes, born in Yorkshire, became the only British woman to officially serve as a soldier in World War I. She joined the Serbian army and fought on the front lines, becoming a decorated senior caption, defying convention and showing extraordinary courage.

10. Barbara Castle (Blackburn) 1910-2002

“Never underestimate the power of a determined woman.”

Barbara Castle, Blackburn’s own, was a political powerhouse who championed equal pay for women. She was MP for Blackburn and appointed to senior government positions, including Secretary of State for Social Services. Her fiery speeches and relentless work ethic made her one of Britain’s most influential politicians. She didn’t just break the glass ceiling—she smashed it to bits, paving the way for future women.

Lancashire Women

1. Dame Gracie Fields (Rochdale) 1898-1979

“You can’t beat a proper sing-song.” – Gracie, probably.

A Lancashire legend with a voice that could melt hearts, Gracie Fields sang her way into the nation’s soul. Whether on stage or entertaining troops in wartime, she carried Rochdale pride wherever she went. Her humour and warmth made her a beacon of hope when the world needed it most.

2. Victoria Wood (Prestwich) 1953-2016

“All my friends started getting boyfriends, but I didn’t want a boyfriend. I wanted a thirteen-colour biro.”

Victoria Wood brought laughter to living rooms across the UK with her sharp wit and down-to-earth humour. A trailblazer for women in comedy, she showed that a Lancashire lass could make the nation laugh while tackling life’s truths. Following her death, a statue of Victoria was unveiled in Bury to celebrate the award-winning comedian.

3. Barbara Castle (Blackburn) 1910-2002

“Never underestimate the power of a determined woman.”

Barbara Castle, Blackburn’s own, was a political powerhouse who championed equal pay for women. She was MP for Blackburn and appointed to senior government positions, including Secretary of State for Social Services. Her fiery speeches and relentless work ethic made her one of Britain’s most influential politicians. She didn’t just break the glass ceiling—she smashed it to bits, paving the way for future women.

4. Jeanette Winterson (Accrington) 1959 

“It’s hard to remember that this day will never come again. That the time is now and the place is here and that there are no second chances at a single moment.”

From Accrington to literary fame, Jeanette Winterson’s debut novel Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit boldly tackled growing up as a lesbian in a strict Pentecostal community. Since then, she’s never shied away from challenging norms, using her voice to question society and celebrate individuality with every word.

5. Sarah Lancashire (Oldham) 1964 

“The work I like to do is the work I’m most afraid of.”

Sarah Lancashire is one of Britain’s most acclaimed actresses, known for her unforgettable performances in Happy Valley, Last Tango in Halifax, and Coronation Street. Earlier this year, Sarah returned to our screens in another detective role – for a Yorkshire Tea advert, cracking the case of who stole Pat’s biscuits. Her roles indeed celebrate her northern roots!

6. Rachel Kay-Shuttleworth (Burnley) 1886-1967

“I have a vision of a place of meeting where neighbours will come for many reasons to seek stimulating thought by meeting other active minds, to find refreshment and inspiration and a joy in beauty.” 

Rachel Kay-Shuttleworth, born in Burnley, was a master embroiderer and founder of the Gawthorpe Textiles Collection. In addition to her contribution to textiles, she opened Burnley’s Gawthrope Hall to the public, where she showcased textiles to craft groups and students.

7. Edith Rigby (Preston) 1872-1950

“Well, if they won’t listen to a woman’s words, maybe they’ll notice when her matchbox does the talkin’.” – Edith, probably.

Edith Rigby was a pioneering suffragette from Preston who fought tirelessly for women’s rights. Known for her bold activism, she organised protests, endured imprisonment, and challenged societal norms to secure a better future for women. She committed several acts of arson, including the notorious arson of the MP Sir William Lever’s house near Rivington Pike.

8. Ethel Carnie Holdsworth (Oswaldtwistle) 1886-1962

“The tragedy in the lives of the people is in what does not happen, rather than in what does happen -in all they do not realise.” 

Born in Oswaldtwistle, Ethel Carnie Holdsworth was a mill worker who became one of Britain’s first working-class female poets and authors. Her books, including Songs of a Factory Girl, championed workers’ rights and equality. A poet and activist, she used her writing to fight for a fairer society.

9. Jane Couch (Fleetwood) 1968 

“If women want to put on make-up or dance around their handbags, they should be able to. But they should be free to box, too.”

Jane Couch, from Fleetwood, broke barriers in boxing as the first British woman to be awarded a professional boxing license. Despite facing discrimination, she became a five-time world champion and paved the way for women in the sport.

10. Helen Ledwick (Accrington) 1979

“If you’d told me then that I’d be speaking about this stuff out loud, I would have told you to give your head a wobble.”

A journalist and author from Lancashire, Helen Ledwick is the creator of The Scummy Mummies Podcast and author of Why Mums Don’t Jump. She’s used her platform to tackle taboo topics like women’s pelvic health, empowering women to speak openly about issues often kept in the shadows.

11. AJ Odudu (Blackburn) 1988 

“I feel I’ve always had this northern grit about me. You just get on with it, working-class town, a bit of graft – I was never shy of hard work, and it’s finally starting to pay off.”

Born in Blackburn, AJ Odudu is a TV presenter and broadcaster whose infectious energy and charm have lit up screens nationwide. Known for hosting Big Brother’s Bit on the Side and The Voice UK, she’s also inspired audiences with her determination, including reaching the Strictly Come Dancing final despite injury.

NorthernLife March/April/May 25