A fantastic visit back to Canterbury and the Beaney House of Art and Knowledge to spend the day researching inspirational Kent women through the ages. Led by digital humanities expert Dr Catriona Cooper and facilitator and content curator Helen Crutcher, the group took the life of Aphra Behn, plus a guided tour of the Beaney’s collections, as a starting point for the creation of our own biographies of local women who lived remarkable lives. It was a brilliant atmosphere and wonderful to have my head down researching, alongside others who brought such a range of local knowledge.
Aphra’s story was new to many of the group, as was that of Mary Moders, self-appointed ‘German princess’, born in Canterbury in 1642. You can find out more on the map! The stories we worked on ranged across the centuries, covering contemporary artists, actors, sportswomen alongside historical figures. The map created lets you explore key places in the histories of these individuals and you can move across it and find out who is connected with each location or select women from the menu. It is a living map and will continue to grow, putting a well-deserved spotlight on the wonderful inspirational women of Kent.
