North Tyneside suffragette to be honoured with a blue plaque on International Women’s Day

A celebrated suffragette who fought for gender equality in the early 20th Century is to be honoured with a blue plaque at her family home in Tynemouth.

Norah Elizabeth Balls was a high profile activist in the women’s suffrage movement who fought alongside Emmeline Pankhurst to secure the vote for women.

As well as being a prominent member of the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU), she was also a magistrate and a Tynemouth town councillor, who performed countless good deeds for her community.

She helped to set up the Girl Guides in Northumberland, worked as an Air Raid Warden during the Second World War, and retired to a flat in Bamburgh Castle, at the invitation of the Third Lady Armstrong.

She passed away in 1980, aged 94.

On International Women’s Day (Tuesday 8 March), North Tyneside Council and the Old Low Light Heritage Centre will unveil a blue plaque to honour her life and achievements at 36 King Edward Road, the family home where she lived between 1902 and 1936.

The event will be opened by North Tyneside’s Elected Mayor, Norma Redfearn CBE, alongside volunteers from the Old Low Light Heritage Centre, before the unveiling of the plaque by members of Norah’s family.

The house was originally built for Norah’s family and named Deneside, and the current owners have reinstated the original name of the property ahead of the unveiling.

The event will be followed by a display about Norah’s life and achievements at the Old Low Light, as part of a programme of activities dedicated to Norah’s life throughout March.

North Tyneside’s Elected Mayor, Norma Redfearn CBE, said: “I am delighted that we can bring people together on International Women’s Day to celebrate Norah’s life and achievements.

“We owe Norah and her fellow suffragettes an enormous debt of gratitude for all that she achieved. She was an outstanding public servant and the way she campaigned with such determination should be an inspiration to all.

“The blue plaque is a token of how much she means to us in North Tyneside and a reminder to future generations to remember the life of an extraordinary woman whose achievements will echo through the ages.”

Nina Brown, a volunteer and trustee at the Old Low Light who has researched and curated the display said: “Women today stand on the shoulders of women like Norah Balls. During my research, I discovered a champion for women, with great courage for a cause, adventurous and with a strong belief in service to her community.”

Members of the public can find out more about events dedicated to Norah Balls at Old Low Light by visiting oldlowlight.co.uk or following the group on Facebook and Twitter.

Picture: Northumberland Archives