Violet Markham

Who was Violet Markham?

Violet Rosa Markham CH was a writer, social reformer and administrator. She grew up near Chesterfield, the daughter of Charles Markham, part owner of the profitable Markham Collieries and Markham & Co. Engineering of Chesterfield. When a friend of her late father died in 1901 Violet inherited enough money to live an independent life and devote her wealth to causes she supported, as well as to buy her own house in London. Her mother was a daughter of Sir Joseph Paxton, designer of the Crystal Palace, the centrepiece of the 1851 Great Exhibition.

Her first interest was education. She was a member of the Chesterfield Education Authority from 1899 to 1934, and in 1902, she was the founder President of the Chesterfield Settlement, an educational foundation for the local community which existed until 1958. Later she became involved in public service in different sectors. At the outbreak of World War I, she became a member of the Executive Committee of the National Relief Fund, established to alleviate distress caused by the war. The fund dispensed aid to service families and dependents, as well as civilians. The experience of this organisation left her with a lifelong interest in reducing the effects of poverty and unemployment, especially with regard to women. In 1914 she became a member and later chairman of the Central Committee of Women's Training and Employment, which in 25 years trained nearly 100,000 women, mainly for domestic service. In 1917 she was made deputy director of the women's section of the National Service Department, and was one of the first recipients of the Companionship of Honour. In 1920 she began a long period as a member of the Industrial Court, and became a member of the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Committee for Women Justices.