An exhibition by York school students researching women who died during service in the first World War opens for public display yesterday at York Castle Museum.
Students at The Mount School investigated the lives of a number of women who are commemorated under York Minster’s historic Five Sisters’ Window.
The students’ display, created in June 2014 as part of a school-wide creative arts festival, caught the interest of the York Museums Trust and is now on exhibition in York Castle Museum’s Community Room until the end of April.
Helen Snelson, Head of History at the all-girl Quaker school said, “The girls were fascinated as they researched these women and learned about their life stories. Women like Nellie Spindler, who was born in Wakefield in 1892, served as a staff nurse in France and died in 1917 after the hospital she was working in was shelled; or Elsie Impey, who had herself been a student at The Mount and died after guiding castaways to safety on lifeboats. The enthusiasm with which the girls undertook their research shows in the exhibition.”
Adrienne Richmond, Principal of The Mount School, today said, “It is small wonder that The Mount became the first school in the country to be awarded the Historical Association’s Gold Level certificate for history teaching. The girls’ work is academically strong and captivates the interest.”
Dr M Faye Prior, Collections Facilitator at York Museums Trust, said: “The Community Room at York Castle Museum is part of our First World War exhibition 1914: When the World Changed Forever. We welcome community groups to display exhibitions about the First World War which have a York focus.
“The stories of the women featured in this exhibition are fascinating and it is fantastic that we are able to tell them here at York Castle Museum.”
York Minster’s Five Sisters’ Window was dedicated as a memorial to the women of the British Empire who died in service during the First World War. It had been restored and releaded thanks to the fundraising efforts of a group of York women, lead by Helen Little who, according to the York Minster factsheet, “reported having a vision of her long-dead sisters” on night while on her way to Evensong in the Minster.
Helen Snelson says “Approaching York Minster, which had removed the windows during the war for fear of damage during bombing raids, Helen Little offered to fund the replacement of the windows, with the proviso of a women’s memorial; ‘Sisters for the sisters!’ as she would say. The Minster happily agreed.
“Helen Little and her supporters wrote to donors across the country with their idea and, within three months, raised of £3,000 which in today’s currency would be worth over £185,000. This was more than enough to replace the windows and paint the door panels. The memorial of the Five Sisters’ Window is quite unique in that it commemorates women from all walks of life, whether they were nurses, munitions workers, canteen ladies, Red Cross or other, and they are from across the entire Empire as the Commonwealth was called at the time,” said Helen Snelson.