The women of Oswestry were very busy and industrious in response to the First World War. As men enlisted or were conscripted to join up and fight, women were recruited to fill the roles they had left behind.
New jobs were also created as part of the war effort, for example in munitions factories. Many other women became head of the household and some even took over the running of businesses.
In Oswestry, even before the war, huge numbers of women are recorded as running businesses. From the census we can see where the women were working by street. Notable streets with large numbers of women workers include Willow Street, Lord Street, Park Avenue, Prince Street, Oak Street, Cross Street, Church Street, Oakhurst Street and Castle Street.
It seems that these women worked in business all their lives as well as carrying out war work as VADs, in the war guilds, or the war hospital supply depots.
After the war some women decided against returning to their domestic roles and instead took part in political and social movements. Click here to read the story of one Shropshire woman fighting to take part in male-dominated politics…
Search the names and streets below to find out where the women were working…