Women of York – new archive film celebrates women’s histories in the city 

A new archive film, Women of York, is set to premiere in celebration of International Women’s Day, bringing to light the untold stories of the women who shaped the city’s history. It has been produced by the School of Humanities and York Business School at York St John University, in collaboration with the Yorkshire and North East Film Archive (YFA/NEFA).  

Women of York will be screened at a special free launch event on Friday 7 March at York St John University. 

Drawing on archival footage spanning from the Edwardian period to the twenty-first century, the film showcases female residents' everyday lives and contributions to the city’s development. 

Audiences will recognise some key landmarks of York that are shown in a different light, from women skating on the frozen River Ouse, to workers at the Rowntree chocolate factory, to footballers on the city’s pitches. The film also includes moments of activism and controversy, such as protests outside York Minster and debates over an actress playing God in the Mystery Plays. 

The film stems from a broader initiative called ‘The Women of York’ project, which aims to raise awareness of the vital role women have played in the development of the city and to improve access to women's history at York’s tourism and heritage sites. Previous work from the project includes the Beyond the Vote Festival and the creation of a Women’s History of York map. 

Led by Dr Elodie Duché, Professor Anne-Marie Evans and Dr Brendan Paddison from York St John University, the film was developed with the team from the film archive. They worked to uncover and curate rare footage reflecting women’s daily lives throughout the city’s history. They focused on records that included the voices of the women being documented, rather than a male narrator, to amplify women’s voices as much as possible. 

Dr Elodie Duché, Senior Lecturer in History, York St John University said: “Although women's history and gender history are well-established fields in academia, these perspectives on the past are not often reflected in the public narratives of the city's history. 

“Among residents and tourists, York is known for its chocolate history, its Roman past, the influence of the Vikings and that of the Railways on the city.  But what about the women who made it?  Thinking about women’s stories and lived experience is integral to thinking about how we can move forward in positive and inclusive ways.   

“Marking women’s history and women’s achievements is hugely important to increase the visibility of women’s history and to foster a sense of belonging in the city.”  

Professor Anne-Marie Evans, Head of School of Humanities, York St John University said: 

“Our aim was to present the diverse spaces in York where women lived, gathered, worked, played, worshipped, and more, while taking into account the challenges that they faced in their day-to-day lives.  

“We hope that the film can spark questions and start a conversation about women’s history in York, and make viewers think about the many ways, and particularly the many everyday actions, through which women made the city and its history. We also hope that this film will start a discussion about diversity and how we can record women’s lives in more inclusive ways going forward. 

“The film is an invitation to reflect on the diverse, subtle and complex forms of agency that women deployed and contributed to life in York.” 

Dr Brendan Paddison, Associate Professor and Interim Dean of York Business School said: “Documenting and showcasing women's histories in York is essential to understanding the full story of its past. The city’s history is not complete without the stories of the women who shaped it.  

“York is an internationally important heritage destination that welcomes up to 9 million tourists a year. With an incredible platform like this, it’s vital to amplify the voices and achievements of women in the city. We can’t change how history was recorded in the past, but we can shape how it’s presented today, to enrich our shared heritage and inspire generations to come.”      

Megan McCooley, Co-Director and Head of Collections, Yorkshire and North East Film Archive said: “As a regional charity, based in York, it has been a pleasure to delve into our collections to reveal footage that helps tell not only the story of women on film, but which echoes the histories of women in our city.  We hope that it will resonate with all viewers, in York and beyond.” 

Taking place on Friday 7 March, 5pm at the York St John Creative Centre, the Women of York film launch is a free public event. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in discussions about women’s history, the importance of archival records, and how we can create a more inclusive historical narrative. 

Further information and booking via Eventbrite 

Image is from Women in York. Credit: Yorkshire and North East Film Archive