Edith Rigby House campaign group to open suffragette museum plan public meeting

The boarded up former offices along Winckley Square Pic: Blog Preston

A campaign to restore the home of Edith Rigby and turn into a museum of women’s suffrage museum will host its first public event.

A group of volunteers are working to see the vacant property on Winkley Square restored and opened to the public. Edith was Preston’s most famous suffragette and devoted her life to fighting for equal rights, particularly those of working class women.

The building has a blue plaque recognising it as her former home but currently sits empty. From a discussion which started in the comments of a Facebook post sharing a video of the empty interior, a group is now hoping to make museum plans come good.

Among those leading the campaign is Jonny Cosmo who told Blog Preston that regardless of what anyone thinks of Edith’s methods, she “remains a large part of the cultural history in this area”.

He said: “We’re really excited that we’re going to have a public meeting at the Central Methodist Church as the first introduction to what we’re doing.”

That event will take place 6-8.30pm on Wednesday, September 25 and will include guest speakers as well as a chance for people to quiz those behind the plans.

Edith Rigby, pictured left, and the blue plaque to her in Winckley Square Pic: Preston Digital Archive/Tony Worrall

While there are many hurdles to be cleared to make the dream a reality, Jonny remains convinced it can happen.

He said: “I’ve never not been optimistic. It’s already been shown there’s a good bit of interest from the public. We’ve spoken with Friends of Winkley Square, with the Pankhurst Centre in Manchester and we’re moving to become an organised society.”

Discussing the ideal plans, he said that opening the museum would be an opportunity to remember and recognise other women involved in the suffrage movement as well.

Jonny said: “The building will be converted into a women’s suffrage museum and education centre. As well as being a space open to the public, it will be a way to attract tourism to Preston and we could have school trips. It will be the first of its kind in the country.”

Those interested in the campaign are asked to follow the Friends of Edith Rigby social media pages where fundraising plans will also be shared in due course.

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