Women of the S&DR

Caroline Hardie

Join Caroline Hardie as she uncovers the untold stories of the remarkable women who helped shape Britain's pioneering Stockton & Darlington Railway in the 1820s. With over 11 years of research into the railway's history, Caroline brings to light the overlooked contributions of widows and single women who invested in, funded, and even operated early passenger services at a time when women had virtually no legal or economic power.

In this episode, meet trailblazing figures like Martha Howson, Jane Scott, and Ann Adamson, who took over coaching inns and ran horse-drawn railway services after the deaths of their husbands. Hear the moving story of Mary Cleasby, left to survive with no income, and discover how women like Mary Simpson became among the first officially employed by the railway company.