A WOMAN whose pioneering childcare was a lifeline for working mothers in Bradford has been honoured with a plaque in the city centre.

Bradford Civic Society unveiled the plaque to Florence Moser (1856-1921) on International Women's Day yesterday.

Alan Hall from the City Society writes: “'We take for granted that all girls must go out into the world as domestic servants, and again and again the truth has to be faced that all girls are not intended by nature to be domestic servants any more than all girls are fitted to be teachers or nurses'.

These words by Florence Moser, concerning the lack of career opportunities for women at the turn of the 20th century, show clearly that she was an early feminist, though she would not have called herself that. Rather, she saw herself as a philanthropist with a special interest in the plight of working women. She is best remembered for her work with mothers and young children.

She opened 'The Nest' in Wynne Street near Westgate, where mothers could leave their infants knowing that they would be fed and cared for while they went off to work. A significant proportion of Bradford’s mill workers were women, as they supposedly had nimble fingers when retying the threads which frequently broke on the spinning machines and looms. Also, the mill owners could pay them less than men. In fact, most women worked very long hours for a pittance. The Nest operated for more than 25 years.

Florence established the City Guild of Help in Bradford as a means of alleviating the suffering of the poor and needy. For 10 years she was a member of the Board of Guardians (and vice-chairman for three years) which oversaw Bradford’s workhouse, but she did not conform to the Dickensian stereotype, as found in Oliver Twist.

Instead, Florence worked hard to establish a number of homes for children, to free them from the taint and horrors of the workhouse. As an extension of this, she helped establish a holiday home for mothers and their children in Burnsall.

Together with her husband Jacob Moser (Lord Mayor of Bradford 1910-1911), Florence contributed at least £300,000 to local charities, including £10,000 in 1898 to a benevolent fund for the aged and infirm workers of Bradford, and £5,000 in 1908 towards the Bradford Royal Infirmary Fund.

Because of her philanthropic work for women and children, Bradford Civic Society has placed this memorial blue plaque in Manor Row. This commemorative plaque has been kindly funded by the City Guild of Help.

As Wade Hustwick wrote in an article about Florence, published in the Telegraph & Argus in 1960: “Her method was to work from the small to the great. She was a blend of the idealist and the practical woman.”

Florence Moser was a woman ahead of her time. She endeavoured to overcome the injustices and inequalities of much of late 19th century and early 20th century life in cities like Bradford. She died in 1921."

Florence's plaque is the latest in Bradford Civic Society’s ‘Great Women of Bradford’ series. The other plaques are dedicated to author Malachi Whitaker, Victoria Cross recipient Barbara Jane Harrison and trade unionist and suffragette Julia Varley. A Bronte sisters plaque at their Thornton birthplace will be unveiled later this year.