Archives throw a light on roots of women’s sporting prominence
Anyone with even a passing interest in sport will be excited by the sensational summer of sport surrounding us at the moment – with women at the forefront.
We’ve seen Markéta Vondroušová winning the Wimbledon’s women’s championship for the first time, the England cricket team holding the mighty Australians to a draw across the Ashes tournament and the England football team in the World Cup with dreams of building on their European Championships victory.
But while women’s sport may be starting to enjoy the recognition and respect it deserves, female participation in sport is nothing new.
To illustrate that point, researchers at North Yorkshire’s County Record Office have dipped into the archive to present these images of women in sport in North Yorkshire dating back to the 19th century.
The archive images on this page are among more than 6,500 available at the County Record Office. Browse the collection or buy photos.
If you have any further information about any of the images on this page, our archivists would be keen to hear about it. Please email yny@northyorks.gov.uk
Skipton Girls’ High School netball team, 1927.
Cyclists at Bedale Church, 1897.
Harrogate lacrosse team, 1910.
Lovesome Hill ladies’ cricket team, 1953.
Mrs Susannah Isabella Edgar of Settle takes part in North Ribblesdale archery competition.
Keep fit and exercise classes for holidaymakers on the North Sands, Scarborough.
A family poses on their front steps with rackets.
A painting of a game of mixed doubles from an illustrated Victorian scrapbook from the Norton Conyers archive.
And finally… perhaps not the peak of women’s sport. Women in French maid outfits take part in a fun race during the French Week celebrations in Harrogate. The challenge is to get down the street as fast as possible without spilling wine on the tray.