Honouring and celebrating Anne Lister’s life
It’s taken centuries for Anne Lister’s achievements to be fully recognised, and I’m proud that The Piece Hall can help honour her.
I WAS honoured to attend the Northern Power Women Awards last week where
I was nominated in the Transformational Leader category.
What a privilege to be among so many inspirational women.
The awards were held in person for the first time since pre pandemic and it was wonderful to be face to face with so many people who’d been reduced to a square on a Zoom call.
The excitement in the room was palpable with finalists and guests dressed up to the nines, relishing the opportunity to get their glad rags on.
The next week sees The Piece Hall join the wider region to celebrate original Northern Power woman Anne Lister during Anne Lister Birthday Week (ALBW).
A successful entrepreneur, landowner and traveller often described as ‘the first modern lesbian’ her story now has global recognition thanks to the award-winning TV series Gentleman Jack – beautifully written by Piece Hall Patron Sally Wainwright OBE.
We were incredibly proud to roll out the red carpet for stars of the show on Tuesday evening as Square Chapel screened the UK premiere of season two of the BBC and HBO blockbuster.
The fans were out in force with a lucky few getting to watch the first episode along with Suranne Jones, Gemma Whelan and Sally herself.
While it’s more than two
centuries since Anne’s birth the impact of this pioneering Haligonian is still felt far and wide with a host of international visitors heading into the area for ALBW from Canada, America, Europe and
of course much closer to home for dozens of events around Calderdale.
Here at the Piece Hall you can join us to ring the bell at 10am on Sunday, April 3 to mark the 231st anniversary of Anne’s birth.
Later that day popular dress historian Lucy
Adlington hosts a talk ‘The Gentlewoman’s Wardrobe: Fashion in the Era of Anne Lister’ where she’ll explore the clothes and customs of the time and showcase some original garments and accessories. (Booking required for both events.)
A first-time event taking place at The Piece Hall this year is at Sally’s request.
Last September there was overwhelming reaction when we unveiled the Anne Lister sculpture in the Courtyard.
Now this year’s birthday celebrations will include the laying of flowers, something Sally has wanted to do for some time:
“It has always saddened me that I have never been able to put flowers on Anne Lister’s grave.
Until we can know for sure exactly where (within the Minster) she is, and are able to honour the spot in a manner appropriate to a woman of such global significance, I’d like to suggest that on her birthday, we all lay flowers around Diane Lawrenson’s captivating sculpture of Anne in The Piece Hall.”
“I hope during the course of the week this will make a beautiful spectacle that reflects the massive love there is out there for this extraordinary woman.”
Without the award ceremonies we have today, it’s taken centuries for Anne Lister’s achievements to be fully recognised, and
I’m proud that The Piece
Hall can help honour and celebrate her trailblazing and uncompromising life.