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Young female engineers' plinth to honour activist

Matt Weigold
BBC Radio Stoke
BBC A blue plaque stands on a metal plinth moulded into the shape of a large cotton bobbin and needle, decorated by a laser cut outline of a factory. To the left of the plinth stands two men and three women dressed in summer clothing. Behind the plinth stand nine females dressed in college uniform. A woman wearing mayoral chains stands to the right. The plaque and the crowd stand on a grassy area in front of a brick building.BBC
Relatives of Ada Nield Chew joined engineering students from Crewe UTC for the unveiling of her blue plaque and plinth

An all-female team of engineering students say they are proud to have designed a plinth to honour the historical activist known as Crewe Factory Girl.

Tailor Ada Nield Chew used the pseudonym to write letters to her local newspaper, the Crewe Chronicle, during the 1890s in complaint of the conditions at her workplace.

A blue plaque in her memory now stands on a giant metal cotton bobbin, engraved with line drawings that reflect Ada's life, outside the site of the former Compton's Clothing Factory on Bridle Road.

The vision of students from Crewe Engineering and Design UTC, 17-year-old student Elizabeth Potter said: "I think they wanted us involved to show that women in engineering does happen."

Getty Images A black and white headshot of a woman with a thick bun of dark hair. She is wearing a white blouse in front of a white background.Getty Images
Nield Chew later joined the fight for women's suffrage and was an active campaigner until women secured the right to vote in 1918.

Ada's plaque was unveiled by the mayor of Crewe, Sally Graham, on 30 June to a crowd which included members of the A Statue for Ada group and the activist's relatives.

Her great-great-nephew, Frank Nield, described the plaque and plinth as 'brilliant' and was pleased Crewe Town Council had chosen to involve local female students.

"I was very impressed with it," he beamed, "The kids designed it wonderfully well."

"Talking to the Crewe residents, they want people to feel greater pride in their town," he added.

The students spoke passionately about Ada's story and their ambitions to enter a male-dominated industry.

"Around Crewe, a lot of males are remembered," noted engineering student Olivia Snmit, 17.

"A lot of streets and buildings are named after them, whereas you don't really see that for the women who made history in Crewe."

Crewe Town Council say they will continue to support the A Statue for Ada group and plan to celebrate more influential females with their Crewe in 50 Women campaign.

A blue plaque stands above a metal plinth moulded in the shape of a cotton bobbin. It is laser cut with a line drawing of a factory. It stands on a grassy area in from of a brick building and nearby terraced houses.
Ada's blue plaque and plinth can be spotted from Wistaston Road in Crewe

Ada left Compton's after being unmasked and went on to join the Independent Labour Party, as well as actively supporting the women's suffrage movement.

Will Chitty, Principal at Crewe Engineering and Design UTC said: "It is wonderful that the students will be able to lay claim to an important landmark in our town for years to come.

"I am so proud that the collaboration between Crewe UTC, the Town Council and Area Welding has produced such a fitting monument to an incredible woman."

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