The Bradford Worthies

Today, September 21, at the Undercliffe Cemetery in Bradford:

Saturday 21st Sept 11 am and 1 pm. Each tour lasts about 1 hour 30 minutes.
The Bradford Worthies
Undercliffe Cemetery BD3 0QD

The Bradford Worthies tour – with the addition of Julia Varley and Nancy De Garrs – Charlotte Bronte’s nurse.
A term we are perhaps unfamiliar with today is a worthy, but in Victorian times important and influential people who made something of themselves were referred to as worthies. The Bradford worthies ranged from industrialists who ran the mills and factories, to civic leaders who helped shape Bradford, and those through their hard work and enterprise rose to the top of whatever institution or organisation they were involved with. Two very special people will also be included in the tour, Julia Varley and Nancy De Garrs.
Julia Varley OBE was a trade unionist and suffragette who started work in the mill at the age of twelve and later became the secretary of the Bradford Weavers’ and Textile Workers’ Union. She moved to Birmingham and established a branch of the National Federation of Women Workers at the Cadbury factory at Bournville and later sat on the General Council of the Trade Union Congress.
Nancy De Garrs was Charlotte Brontë’s nurse. She helped to bring up the Brontë children. Who knows what influence she had on Charlotte and her sisters. Her story will tell of how she was in the right place at the right time to be with the Brontës, and how later she fell into poverty, ended up in the workhouse and had to be rescued from a paupers grave.
As part of the Heritage Open Days this event is Free to attend but please book your ticket in advance. As we are a Charity donations are very welcome to help us pay the costs of maintaining the grounds. To book early and ensure you get a place on this tour visit Eventbrite and book now.
Meet at the Cemetery Lodge, Undercliffe Lane, Bradford 10.30 for 11 am tour and 12.30 for 1 pm tour. Refreshments available.