A woman we can be proud of

December 31, 2002

Elizabeth Fry and her depiction on the £5 note.

Elizabeth Fry Road (Colman Road)

SHE was the Angel of Prisons — the Norwich woman who devoted her life to helping others and ended up on the fiver.

Elizabeth Fry has become one of the most famous faces in the land after she was featured on the banknote.

And everybody in Norwich can be proud of the fact that this pioneering and brave woman has been honoured for her outstanding contribution to British history.

She stepped out of the quiet life in Norwich and into the dark prison dungeons — and was horrified at what she saw.

Elizabeth Fry set out to improve conditions for women prisoners after discovering the heartbreaking sight of 300 women and children huddled together in two wards and two cells. She upset a lot of powerful people in old England who were quite content to lock men, women and children up … and throw away the key. So who was she?

Gurney Court in Magdalen Street where of Elizabeth Fry was born.

Elizabeth Gurney was born at Gurney Court, Magdalen Street, Norwich on May 21, 1780. She was the daughter of wealthy banker John Gurney who was also a leading member of the Society of Friends.

Her mother, Catherine, was a member of the Barclay banking family and was a devout Quaker. Elizabeth was one of 12 children and they all had to spend at least two hours a day in silent prayer.

Her mother died when Elizabeth was just 12 and she was expected to look after her brothers and sisters.

American Quaker William Savery probably had the biggest impact on her early life. After hearing him preach in Norwich she devoted her life to helping those in need. She was influenced by the likes of reformer Thomas Paine, from Norfolk, and for a while became a republican riding through Norwich with a tricolour in her hat.

Elizabeth married the successful Essex merchant and Quaker Joseph Fry in the summer of 1799 and left Norwich to start a new life. She went on to have eight children.

In 1813 Elizabeth paid her first visit to the notorious, rat-infested Newgate Prison in London and was horrified by what saw. She was especially concerned about the appalling condition of the poor women prisoners as they waited for execution or deportation.

Elizabeth was determined to help them using whatever means possible and infuriated many people in the Establishment with her passionate campaigning for prison reform.

But she also won many friends — among them Queen Victoria, who was said to have modelled herself on Elizabeth. The Queen described Elizabeth as “a very superior person”, but whether or not she realised Elizabeth had once ridden through Norwich with a tricolour in her hat is not clear!

After making a name for herself she was invited to the House of Commons to advise MPs on prison changes. She went on to talk to prison authorities across this country and in Europe.

She died on 12 October 1845 — she was a woman we can be very proud of.

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