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Harriet Sophie Youngman was born in Daventry. She came to Ipswich as the first Principal of the Ipswich High School for Girls, when it opened in 1878 at the Assembly Rooms in Northgate Street. The school was established by The Girls Public Day School Company to provide good and affordable education with a wide curriculum.
Miss Youngman led and developed the school for 21 years. She was considered a strong and wise woman, challenging local prejudice about schooling for girls. Her leadership and support helped many local girls to enter university education for the first time and to gain professional qualifications. It was also the first time that girls were introduced to physical education and sports in an educational setting.
Miss Youngman was held in high regard by her pupils who included Mildred Sims, Ipswich’s first woman doctor; Lilian Redstone, whose work was the foundation of Ipswich Record Office; Margaret Tempest (Lady Meare), the celebrated illustrator and author and Constance Andrews, Ipswich’s best known Suffragette.
The Blue plaque was unveiled by members of the Ipswich Women’s Festival Group which aims to research and celebrate local women’s achievements, organising events and developing resources.
The Group started in the 1980s when it held various women’s festivals in the town. It built on the work done by a Community Education Local Women’s History Group in the 1990s, which compiled the first leaflet, and held an exhibition of Women and Work.
This plaque was unveiled on 11th December 2019.
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