Susanna Meredith (née Lloyd; 1823–1901) was a 19th-century

Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...

-born

prison A prison, also known as a jail, gaol (dated, standard English, Australian, and historically in Canada), penitentiary (American English and Canadian English), detention center (or detention centre outside the US), correction center, correc ...

visitor and pioneer for the

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of female prisoners.

Biography

Susanna Lloyd was born in Ireland, her father was the governor of

Cork Cork or CORK may refer to: Materials * Cork (material), an impermeable buoyant plant product ** Cork (plug), a cylindrical or conical object used to seal a container ***Wine cork Places Ireland * Cork (city) ** Metropolitan Cork, also known as G ...

County Gaol. As a child she learned

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, French and

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. At the age of 17, she married a doctor, but was widowed after seven years of marriage. 1847 - 1852 - She managed the Adelaide Industrial School in Cork, which became a central depot for the export of Irish Lace to England. 1856 ? She moved to England with her widowed mother. In 1858, Meredith began visiting

Millbank Prison Millbank Prison or Millbank Penitentiary was a prison in Millbank, Westminster, London, originally constructed as the National Penitentiary, and which for part of its history served as a holding facility for convicted prisoners before they were ...

with the British Society. In 1860 she moved to

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with her mother and, concerned with employment opportunities for women, began editing ''Alexandra'' magazine. She visited female prisoners in

Brixton prison HM Prison Brixton is a local men's prison, located in Brixton area of the London Borough of Lambeth, in inner-South London. The prison is operated by His Majesty's Prison Service. History The prison was originally built in 1820 and opened a ...

and started a mission offering breakfasts, advice, and limited employment opportunities to newly released women. She reported her visits to the

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Sir George Grey Sir George Grey, KCB (14 April 1812 – 19 September 1898) was a British soldier, explorer, colonial administrator and writer. He served in a succession of governing positions: Governor of South Australia, twice Governor of New Zealand, Go ...

. Meredith's home at Nine Elms House, 6 Upper Belmont House, Wandsworth Road was known as The Mission to Women and was used by female prisoners leaving prison. Meredith became the Treasurer of the Female Prisoners' Aid Society. Meredith later turned her attention to the children of convicted women and in 1871 her first home for such children was opened in

Addlestone Addlestone ( or ) is a town in Surrey, England. It is located approximately southwest of London. The town is the administrative centre of the Runnymede (borough), Borough of Runnymede, of which it is the largest settlement. History The town is ...

Surrey Surrey () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South East England, bordering Greater London to the south west. Surrey has a large rural area, and several significant urban areas which form part of the Greater London Built-up Area. ...

by Princess Mary. In 1877, she was told that she was no longer permitted to talk to women prisoners without a matron present. From then, she decided to stop visiting. In 1895 Meredith gave evidence before the

Gladstone Committee William Ewart Gladstone ( ; 29 December 1809 – 19 May 1898) was a British statesman and Liberal politician. In a career lasting over 60 years, he served for 12 years as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, spread over four non-cons ...

on prisons.

Bibliography

* 1865: The Lacemakers: sketches of Irish Characters with Sound Accounts of the Effort to Establish Lacemaking in Ireland. Dedicated to Miss (Angela) Burdett Coutts,for her 'suggestions on the subject of providing industrial instruction for the female poor of Ireland. *1866: ''The Sixth Work; Or, The Charity of Moral Effort'' *1881: ''A Book about Criminals'' *1881: ''Saved Rahab! An Autobiography''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Meredith, Susanna 1823 births 1901 deaths Irish activists Irish women activists People from County Cork 19th-century Irish people