Adelaide Hannah Hawken (1863 -1929)

Born in Stroud, Adelaide later moved to Leigh-on-sea with her husband Mr. W.B. Hawken. Councillor Adelaide Hawken was a crucial figure in developing Southend’s social care in the early 1900s. Following welfare work in the Frist World War she was inspired to improve health and social care within Southend.

Adelaide was a Southend councillor and welfare campaigner. She was only the second female councillor to be elected to Southend Council and she was on the board of the public health committee. She was an active supporter for Women’s Suffrage and following a talk on women’s suffrage at the Leigh Debating Society she became the first female member. One of her talks was on women’s part in society, where she promoted 'the throwing open of all spheres of activity to women, asking in co-operation with men.

Hawken later became one of the first women in the country to be appointed to the Bench of Magistrates in 1920 and became visiting Justice for Holloway Prison.

Campaigning for better health careCouncillor Hawken was on the public library and the health committee in 1919-1920. This is the first mention of her in council meetings. There were only two other female candidates for Councillor election that year - Edith Alice Gaunt for Westborough ward and Anne Katherine Alderman for Chalkwell. Before Hawken it seems the only other female councillor elected was Miss Bannester in 1910-1911.This evidently shows Hawken was invested in the health of the Southend borough- being on the committee.

Her campaigning led to the opening of the first child welfare clinic in Southend in 1915 and more were to follow. Her picture was featured in Westcliffe Graphic on the 22nd October 1915. The text reads:

‘Mrs Hawken of Leigh, who is chairman of the infant care sub-committee who have formulated a scheme for the promotion of maternity and infant welfare. The scheme, which will involve an expenditure of £150 per annum was adopted by the Southend Town Council on Tuesday.’

The clinic at the Westcliff Institute provided essential support and aimed to reduce mortalities amongst mothers and their babies. The Westcliff Institute offered free rooms for the clinic which is where it was set up. Westcliff Institute was behind the Trinity Methodist Church and is now the Trinity Family Centre. It's on the corner of Argyll Road and London Rd. The entrance to the Institute is still there.

Snapping the Stiletto interviewed Adelaide’s granddaughter – Dorothy Hawken. Dorothy was one of the first female bank managers in the country and is very proud of her grandmother. Her mother worked in the mother and baby clinic alongside Adelaide. She remembers Adelaide as being very gentle but also firm.

Particular dates of interest are:1915- Opening of the first Mother and Baby Welfare Clinic in Westcliff1920- Adelaide Hawken is one of the first women in the country to be appointed to the Bench of Magistrates

Southend Museums collection photographs

Southend Museum have five postcards with photographs taken of the mother and baby clinic at the Westcliff Institute. These show mothers with their babies, as well as a baby being weighed on scales and children in prams outside the Institute. It could be these postcards were made to raise funds for the clinic. These photos date from 1915-1918. Photos to be credited to Southend Museums Service.