Edna Annie Crichton
Cllr. Ald.
York's first woman Lord Mayor, Edna Annie Crichton, pictured in November 1941.[1]
Lord Mayor of York
In office
1941–1942
MonarchGeorge VI
Preceded byWilliam Horsman
Succeeded byEdward Lacy
City of York councillor
In office
1919–1955
Personal details
Born
Edna Annie Crichton

1876
Died1970
Political partyNone (independent)
OccupationPolitician

Edna Annie Crichton (1 May 1876 – 5 March 1970) was lord mayor of York from 1941 to 1942, the first woman to hold that position.

Biography

Crichton was born in Gloucester on 1 May 1876. Her father, Joseph Marshall Sturge JP was a merchant, her mother was Anne (Annie) Burke, and her sister was Mary Sturge Gretton, historian. Crichton attended Sidcot School and worked on the Passmore Edwards settlement in Bloomsbury, London. In the early 1910s, she took on a role in York, serving on the national health insurance committee and on the board of guardians for the city.[2]

In 1919, Crichton was elected to City of York Council, a position she would go on to hold for 23 years.[2][3] Crichton was Lord Mayor of York from 1941 to 1942, the first woman to hold that position.[4][5] As lord mayor, she led the city through the Baedeker raids.[6] She spent her time visiting hospitals and many of the bombed houses.[2]

Crichton was also the first female Alderman in York, a position she took on in 1942 and she held for 13 years, concerning herself with social interests such as health, housing and education, sitting on committees for each. She led initiatives on the housing front, establishing a committee on housing and ensured construction of new houses and removal of dilapidated ones.[2] In 1955, on her retirement, she became the second woman to receive the Freedom of the City of York.[6][7][8]

She married David Sprunt Crichton on 22 August 1901 and they had two children, Vida and David together. After retirement in 1955, she continued to live in York until her death at Clifton on 5 March 1970.[2]

In 2017 a blue plaque was unveiled at her house at 30 Clifton in York celebrating her achievements. The plaque was unveiled by Rt Hon Lord Mayor of York, Councillor Barbara Boyce. Three other women ex-Lord Mayors witnessed the unveiling.[9]

References

  1. ^ "York's first woman Lord Mayor". York Press. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e Reid, Ellie (23 September 2004). "Gretton [née Sturge; first married name Henderson], Mary Gertrude Sturge (1871–1961)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/odnb/9780198614128.013.59036. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  3. ^ Rubinstein, David (2013). Homage to Edna Annie Crichton : 1876-1970. Quacks Books. p. 2. ISBN 978-1-904446-46-0.
  4. ^ "Lord Mayors of York 1801–2000". York Mansion House. 3 December 2013. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  5. ^ Kightly, Charles; Semlyn, Rachel (1980). Lords of the City : The Lord Mayors of York and their Mansion House. York City Council. ISBN 9780903281010.
  6. ^ a b "The indomitable Mrs Crichton of York". York Press. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  7. ^ "York's blue plaques: Edna Annie Crichton". York Press. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  8. ^ "Edna Annie Crichton(1876–1970) | York Civic Trust". yorkcivictrust.co.uk. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  9. ^ "Edna Annie Crichton(1876–1970) | York Civic Trust". Retrieved 12 September 2020.
Civic offices Preceded byWilliam Horsman Lord Mayor of York 1941–1942 Succeeded byEdward Lacy
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