Portrait of Elizabeth Fry

Elizabeth Fry (known as Betsy) was born in Norwich to a wealthy family. Her father was a banker and her mother was a member of the Barclay family (both branches of the family went on to merge as Barclay’s Bank in 1896). She was raised as a Quaker (a religion rooted in Christianity that broke off from the Church of England and allowed more female preaching), believing in equality, social justice and peace.

In 1813, after learning of the terrible conditions experienced by prisoners, Elizabeth Fry began visiting women in Newgate prison. At that time, it was common for poor people, desperately hungry, to resort to stealing to feed themselves and their families. And if a woman was sent to prison, her young children would go with her. Fry was shocked to see men, women and children all kept together in dirty, crowded dungeon-like rooms. They were dressed in rags and had no toilets, beds or proper food. Disease was rife and many prisoners died as a result.

From that moment, she began campaigning for better prison conditions. She visited Newgate regularly, bringing warm, clean clothes for babies and children and blankets for the sick. She taught the women useful skills that might help them find work once they were released, like reading, writing and sewing. She also read to them from the Bible.

As well as her own work with prisoners, she campaigned for better conditions. Her campaigns included working to lessen overcrowding, separate areas for men and women, female guards for women prisoners, and less solitary confinement – which she thought especially bad for mental health. Fry also believed more visits from friends and family should be allowed, and that prisoners should be given useful things to do. In 1821 she founded the British Ladies’ Society for Promoting the Reformation of Female Prisoners, the first national organisation for women.

Elizabeth Fry helped those outside prison too. She set up a primary school when she was 17, helped sick neighbours, set up a night shelter for the homeless in London, helped campaign to end the Transatlantic slave trade, and began a training school for nurses. Queen Victoria was one of the many people who admired and supported her in her work.

Did you know..?

Elizabeth Fry appeared on the £5 note. She is one of only three women (aside from the Queen) to appear on a Bank of England banknote.

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