大象传媒

Trousers were considered a male garment. A small number of ladies started wearing them from the 1890s as part of their efforts for dress reform. But there are photographs of women racing car drivers with their long skirts tied around their ankles. So when Elizabeth 鈥淟izzie鈥� Holmes became the first woman to be seen wearing a pair in Horden she caused quite a stir.

She describes children gathering around preventing her from going home. Her husband had gone away to fight in the war so she was dressed in her work clothes worn at the new coke ovens.

After Lizzie鈥檚 debut, many other married women of their community put on the same clothes the next day and went to work with her.

If Lizzie had worn trousers all the time then she faced more vicious comment from adults and children.

Location: Eighth Street, Horden, County Durham SR8 4LY
Image shows Eighth Street, where Lizzie Holmes lived
Report presented by Jonathan Swingler