Frances Hughes

Frances Hughes
Frances Hughes
Born	14 April 1855 ; Carmarthen
Died	12 February 1927 (aged 71); Cheltenham
Alma mater	North London Collegiate School ;
Occupation	Principal
Family	Hugh Price Hughes, Elizabeth Phillips Hughes

Frances Emily Hughes became Frances Emily Webb-Peploe (1855 – 1927) was the head of the Women's hall of residence for the University College of North Wales in Bangor. She resigned following a dispute that caused a national debate.

Life

Hughes was born in 1855. Her parents were Anne Phillips and John Hughes. Her father was a surgeon based in Carmarthen and the family already included her brother Hugh Price Hughes and her sister Elizabeth Phillips Hughes. She completed her education at the North London Collegiate School. Her brother became a Wesleyan minister whereas she and her sister became Anglicans.^[1]

Hughes was employed as the head of the Women's hall of residence for the University College of North Wales in Bangor.^[1]

The "Bangor dispute"

Elspeth and John Rhŷs's daughter, Myfanwy, attended the college in Bangor where she lived at the women's hall. Hughes was concerned that their daughter was leaving the hall to visit Violet Osborn.^[1] Osborn had arrived at the Hall in 1891 when she was 25. She had lived at the hall for a year but she then decided to not live in the hall and she moved to Sackville Terrace.^[2] Hughes spoke, in confidence, to Myfanwy's mother Elspeth Rhŷs who was a teacher and a prominent campaigner for the education of women.^[3] Elspeth said that she was told that the elder Osborn was not good company for Myfanwy. She was "unfavourably brought-up", untruthful and not "pure-minded".^[2] It was against the rules for students staying at the halls to visit students who lived elsewhere and Osborn's character was questioned. News of this conversation spread and Violet Osborn and her supporters were concerned at the implication on her reputation. Hughes had expressed doubts about Violet's intentions and her integrity. The hall's governor's asked Frances to explain herself but she refused to reveal her sources.^[1] The Senate stood by Violet Osborn and the governors of the halls of residence backed Frances.^[2]

Her brother Hugh Price Hughes wrote to

Weekly Dispatch.^[1]

Two of Bangor's professors were involved in the case. Edward Vernon Arnold married Violet Osborn the other was Evan Keri Evans [cy] and he in time had to resign his position.^[1]

Later

In 1891 the college decided that any student under the age of 21 should be obliged to live in hall.^[2]

She married Revd Francis Hanmer Webb-Peploe and became known as a minister's wife. She died in the vicarage in Cheltenham on 12 February 1927.^[1]

References

^
doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/48527. Retrieved 25 July 2023. (Subscription or UK public library membership
required.)

^
ISBN 978-3-031-29987-2
.

^ "Elspeth Hughes-Davies". Merched Chwarel. Retrieved 25 July 2023.

[forb-1] 
doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/48527. Retrieved 25 July 2023. (Subscription or UK public library membership
required.)

[letter-2] 
ISBN 978-3-031-29987-2
.

[3] "Elspeth Hughes-Davies". Merched Chwarel. Retrieved 25 July 2023.

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