Person    | Female  Born 4/3/1838  Died 24/7/1912

Emma Cons

Social reformer and theatre manager. Born London. Knew and was influenced by Octavia Hill, John Ruskin and Henrietta Barnett. Her involvement in the temperance movement led to her taking on the lease of the Royal Victoria Theatre (where alcohol was sold) and reopening it as the Royal Victoria Hall And Coffee Tavern (where it was not), on 27 December 1880. From 1882 the premises were also used for adult education - weekly penny lectures which were very popular. The 'Old Vic' as it was known, struggled financially and in 1884 the philanthropist Samuel Morley provided the funds necessary to keep it going. Other donations from various sources enabled the freehold to be purchased in 1891.

In 1889 she extended the adult education into evening classes and thus founded the first part-time educational institution for working men and women in south London. She named this Morley Memorial College after Samuel Morley who had died in 1886. Cons, together with Caroline Martineau and Lucy Cavendish decided that the college would be staffed entirely by women. This had the desired effect of encouraging women to attend as students.

Some of the first classes were held in rooms under the stage but in the 1920s the college moved to its present site on Westminster Bridge Road.

She established the South London Dwellings Company and managed Surrey Lodge on Lambeth Road (home to more than 600 people). She was the first woman alderman to sit on the LCC, and fought to allow women to serve as local councillors.

Cons was also involved in many causes including Women's suffrage and Armenian refugees. Aunt to Lilian Baylis who took over the management of the Old Vic. Died at a friend's home in Kent. The W1 plaque's birth year disagrees with the ODNB.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Emma Cons

Commemorated ati

Emma Cons - Old Vic

Our thanks to our deciphering-of-difficult-to-read-inscriptions consultant, J...

Read More

Emma Cons - W1

Cons was not herself wealthy so it seems odd to describe her as a philanthrop...

Read More

Morley mosaics - WBR - Emma Cons

Emma Cons, born 1838. Emma was a politician, suffragette, educationalist,busi...

Read More

Other Subjects

Agnes Pochin

Agnes Pochin

First woman to speak about women’s suffrage on a public platform. An early campaigner for women's rights. She funded campaigns, wrote one of the first tracts and was one of the three speakers at t...

Person, Gender Issues

1 memorial
Dr Arthur Farre

Dr Arthur Farre

Eminent obstetrician and physician extraordinary to Queen Victoria.  Born Charterhouse Square.  As a friend of Baron Rothschild and obstetrician to his wife, helped him set up the Evelina Children'...

Person, Children, Gender Issues, Medicine

1 memorial
Queer Heritage

Queer Heritage

An appellation used on plaques erected by Sexual Avengers commemorating sites of gay events/interest.

Group, Community / Clubs, Gender Issues

1 memorial
Emily Wilberforce

Emily Wilberforce

In 1915 as Central President of the Mothers' Union she initiated the idea of a dedicated building which resulted in the opening of Mary Sumner House in 1925.  She resigned as President in 1919. Bo...

Person, Gender Issues, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Margaret Haig Thomas, Viscountess Rhondda

Margaret Haig Thomas, Viscountess Rhondda

The Women's Social and Political Union, secretary of Newport branch, founder of Time and Tide and the Six Point Group. Institute of Directors' first female president in 1926. Born as Margaret Haig...

Person, Gender Issues, Wales

1 memorial