Celebrating Liverpool’s Remarkable Women & their Inspiring Stories

We’d like to remember & honour three extraordinary women laid to rest in St James’ Cemetery whose lives left a lasting mark on Liverpool’s history.

Sarah Biffin (1784–1850) was a celebrated Victorian miniaturist artist, born without functioning arms or legs, yet achieving international acclaim for her incredibly detailed paintings created using a paintbrush held in her mouth. Performing before astonished audiences before becoming a respected artist, she went on to paint members of the Royal Family including Queen Victoria and was even referenced by Charles Dickens. Her extraordinary skill and determination defied the expectations of her time.

Sarah Biffin

Lucy Walker (1836–1916) was one of the world’s first female mountaineers during the daring “Golden Age of Alpinism.” She climbed some of the Alps’ most formidable peaks, including Mont Blanc. In 1871, hearing a rival planned to claim the title, Lucy quickly assembled a team and raced to the summit of the Matterhorn. Wearing a long Victorian skirt and hobnailed boots, she became the first woman in history to stand on its peak.

Kitty Wilkinson (1786–1860), known as the “Saint of the Slums,” transformed public health in Liverpool. During the cholera epidemic of 1832, she opened her home and washhouse so neighbours could wash clothes and bedding safely - a simple act of compassion that helped inspire Britain’s first public washhouse movement and saved countless lives.

Their stories of courage continue to inspire us today #LiverpoolHistory #Shiverpool #WomenWhoInspire #HiddenHistory #StJamesCemetery LiverpoolHeritage