Fair Maids, Feminists and Philanthropists

Southwark’s unsung, world-changing women is the fare for this Tour du Jour. Here’s Guide Isobel’s say: “I love this walk. I created it several years ago for Southwark Council to celebrate International Women’s Day. It’s a walk that corrects the balance. The stars wear petticoats, not pantaloons. Women may not appear as often as men in the history books, but that doesn’t mean they’ve been sitting at home twiddling their thumbs. Far from it. Knitting up a storm more like. From princesses to prostitutes, they have made their mark and shaped the world we live in today. Some have relied on their looks, others their wit. We’ll trace the steps of the famous, the infamous, and the virtually unknown Fair Maids, Feminists and Philanthropists in this corner of Southwark. And don’t get me wrong. It’s as much about the place as it is the people. Southwark’s very central but socially it’s on the margin, on the edge. With a dizzying mix of urban building blocks: railway station, market, famous old theatre, gentrification, council blocks, time-honoured old London terraces, the works. It’s honest London, roll-up-the-sleeves-and-get-on-with-it-London, warts and all London, desperate London – makes for quite a buzz. No wonder it’s been the forcing house for all those fair maids and philanthropists.” N.B. the walk takes about two hours and ends in Borough High Street, one minute from London Bridge Tube and five minutes to London Bridge Railway Station.