Latest news with #EmilyHobhouse
BBC News
12-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Cornwall museum celebrates Emily Hobhouse's 165th birthday
A museum celebrating the life of Cornish heroine Emily Hobhouse is celebrating her 165th birthday. Hobhouse saved the lives of thousands of women and children held in British concentration camps in South Africa in the Second Boer War of grew up in the village of St Ive, near Liskeard, where her father was a vicar and the first Archdeacon of Bodmin. Wednesday marked her 165th birthday and additional celebrations are taking place on Saturday. The museum, called the Story of Emily, is in Hobhouse's restored birthday celebrations taking place on Saturday include a talk, a birthday cake competition, a bust unveiling and kite Brits, content consultant at The Story of Emily, said at the time Hobhouse was regarded as a traitor in England for her work during the Second Boer said she was never formally recognised in England and it was time "the whole story is told".Hobhouse died in 1926 in London but her ashes are interred in a statue in South Africa.
The Guardian
08-04-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Emily Hobhouse's effect on the 1906 election
There will be great rejoicing in Cornwall and beyond at the opening up of the home of the courageous pacifist and human rights activist Emily Hobhouse, who campaigned so nobly against British atrocities on the veldt, in their concentration camps, during the Anglo-Boer war of 1899-1902 (Anglo-Boer war whistleblower Emily Hobhouse celebrated in Cornish home, 8 April). She was strangely absent from the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography but the then editor, Colin Matthew, readily agreed to include her when I suggested it. She is certainly a figure of national importance, whose articles had a profound impact on radical opinion during the 1906 general election. David Lloyd George introduced her to the then Liberal leader Henry Campbell-Bannerman, who spoke of the 'methods of barbarism' used on the veldt. Hobhouse's record of British army barbarities in South Africa shifted national opinion, and I have a card of one of her pictures of the Transvaal in my home (she was also a skilled artist). It is a constant O MorganLabour, House of Lords Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
The Guardian
08-04-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Anglo-Boer war whistleblower Emily Hobhouse celebrated in Cornish home
She took on the might of establishment and empire to expose the suffering of women and children held in British concentration camps but her story has 'faded' from the history books. From 12 April a series of events are being held at the Cornish home where the pacifist, whistleblower and activist Emily Hobhouse grew up, around the 165th anniversary of her birth, part of efforts to shine a new light on her fight for justice. Hobhouse travelled from Cornwall to South Africa at the turn of the 20th century and reported back on the awful conditions endured in the British bell tent camps set up during the Anglo-Boer war, but was dismissed as a 'hysterical woman' and a traitor. Her life and times are being celebrated at a new historical attraction called The Story of Emily at the rectory in St Ive, near Liskeard, where she grew up. On Saturday a talk will be given by a leading Hobhouse expert, at the lovingly restored rectory. There will also be birthday cake baking and kite-making sessions. Elsabé Brits, who will give the talk, said the British establishment had been embarrassed at what Hobhouse discovered and managed to make her largely 'fade' from history. She said: 'Emily Hobhouse was an eyewitness of the British concentration camps during the Anglo-Boer war. Not only did she provide relief, such as food, clothing, and other necessities, but she also compiled a 40-page report, published in June 1901, detailing all her observations and findings. 'This report was discussed in both [British] Houses of Parliament. It generated a significant amount of negative press and denialism. She was called a traitor and a hysterical woman.' Brits said: 'Much of her criticism had a feminist slant, which was also not appreciated, especially since she dared to challenge the mighty British empire during wartime. 'Eventually, a ladies' commission was appointed to investigate the conditions in the camps, but Hobhouse was not invited to be part of it. This commission's findings were fundamentally the same as those of Hobhouse. 'However, she was never mentioned in their report nor formally recognised for her humanitarian work in England. She faded from British history.' Brits said Hobhouse was very relevant today. 'When she was abused in the press and public, she did not stand down – she kept on fighting for human rights. She is an excellent role model and a true forgotten British activist who should be remembered along with all the other greats.' At the centre of the The Story of Emily attraction is Hobhouse's childhood home, restored to how it would have been when she was 15 in 1875. The 'war rooms' at the attraction gives an insight into the conflict and the camps. More events are planned next year to mark the centenary of Hobhouse's death. For details of The Story of Emily along with admission prices click here. Details of the birthday celebrations can be found here
BBC News
02-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
Devon and Cornwall buildings on architecture awards shortlist
Building projects in Devon and Cornwall have been included on a shortlist for an architecture award.A museum and a house in Cornwall and an office in Devon join 11 other buildings shortlisted for the Royal Institute Of British Architects (RIBA) South West and Wessex Awards of the shortlisted projects will be visited by a regional jury and the winning buildings announced in jury chairman Rob Gregory said: "This year's shortlist showcases a wide range of projects, from standalone new builds, to holistic transformations of existing properties, and discrete extensions." The two Cornish building projects are a new-build family home overlooking Mawgan Porth bay in Newquay and the Story of Emily Museum in Saint latter celebrates the life of humanitarian Emily Hobhouse, who campaigned against the UK's use of concentration camps in the Boer encompasses the rectory where she grew up in addition to a collection of new build and rebuilt elements. The Devon building on the shortlist is the Block office redevelopment in Royal William modern office is hidden behind the exterior of the Grade I listed Melville Building, which was a former naval warehouse."With nine homes in contention this year, domestic architecture in the south-west region remains as strong as ever," said Mr Gregory."Alongside these, the jury is looking forward to visiting new workplaces, cultural venues and community housing, on a carefully choreographed journey that extends over 135 miles (about 220km) - from the suburbs of Bath to the far reaches of West Cornwall."The regional winning buildings will be considered for further RIBA awards including the UK's best new building.
