Unveiling by Professor Richard Black and Liverpool Women's Association chair, Heather Ainscough
A plaque commemorating the life and work of Josephine Butler was unveiled on the University of Liverpool's Foundation Building, which sits on the site of the former Brownlow Hill workhouse, today (29 October 2026).
A remarkable feminist and social reformer, Butler was a leading campaigner for women's suffrage and rights. She campaigned for the repeal of the Contagious Diseases Act and advocated for better educational opportunities for women and girls.
The special event also featured an exhibition of the University's Josephine Butler Archives and examples of current Liverpool research on issues she campaigned against that persist today.
Josephine Butler and the University of Liverpool
Josephine moved to Liverpool in 1866 when her husband, George, became master of Liverpool College. She remained in the city until 1882.
During this time, she regularly visited the Brownlow Hill workhouse to work with disenfranchised and destitute women. The Foundation Building plaque will commemorate her work on this site.
The Contagious Diseases Act forcibly imprisoned women suspected of sex work, subjecting them to invasive medical inspections, including at the Liverpool Lock Hospital, which is now occupied by the University's Harold Cohen Library.
Speakers at the event included Professor Sally Sheard, Dean of the Institute of Population Health & Andrew Geddes and John Rankin Professor of Modern History, University of Liverpool
Dr Pat Starkey, honorary research fellow, School of Histories, Languages and Cultures, University of Liverpool and Dr Kate Lister, historian, writer, podcaster and patron of the Josephine Butler Society. University of Liverpool Vice-Chancellor Professor Tim Jones welcomes guests to the event.
Matt Greenhall, Director of Libraries, Museums and Galleries at the University of Liverpool said: "We're pleased to commemorate the life and work of Josephine Butler today with a plaque in an area of Liverpool where she made a great difference to people's lives. It was fascinating to hear more about Josephine's impact from our speakers and from our collection of archive materials about her life and work. We hope this plaque raises awareness of Josephine's work with our students and visitors to campus."
Contemporary relevance of Butler's work
Many of the things Butler campaigned against are still with us. Research being conducted across the University illustrates this, including by Dr Gemma Ahearne in the School of Law and Social Justice and Dr Janine Yazdi-Doughty in the School of Dentistry.
Gemma and Janine's research into the oral health of modern-day sex workers in Liverpool highlights the continued stigmatisation and social ostracization of members of the community, alongside their bravery, resilience and hope.
Dr Gemma Ahearne said: "Josephine Butler's arrival brought to the city a woman whose compassion and determination would help change lives far beyond it. Her work in Liverpool became a foundation for her campaigning against the injustices faced by women in Victorian society. More than 150 years later, her legacy continues to resonate in the city, where researchers are challenging stigma and working alongside sex workers to improve access to healthcare."
