Ethel May Hovey memorial, Nant y Glyn Road, Colwyn Bay
The 2025 Purple Plaque at the Nant y Glyn Centre commemorates Ethel May Hovey (1871-1953). She was a civic leader and campaigned for better maternity care, locally and across the UK.
She came to Colwyn Bay in 1895 to help her sister, Miss Rosa Hovey, in running Penrhos College (a private girls’ school), where she served as Lady Matron. She quickly became active in wider community initiatives.
In 1907 Ethel founded a Temperance ‘Tavern’ on Park Road. Britain’s temperance movement aimed to reduce drunkenness among the working classes by providing alcohol-free places for people to socialise. Amenities at the Park Road tavern included a bath, writing room, and a comfortable parlour for affordable coffee.
Ethel recognised the urgent need for improved maternal health services, and in 1910 she was co-opted onto the Maternity and Infant Welfare Committee under Colwyn Bay Urban District Council. In 1919, she became the first woman elected to the council. She later became the first chairman of an urban district council in North Wales. The portrait of her in council regalia is shown here courtesy of Conwy Archive Service (CAS).
The video clip below, from CAS, shows her officially opening Colwyn Bay’s Post Office building in 1926. It’s one of many historical films by Mr G Kenyon held by CAS.
As a councillor, she spearheaded efforts to provide a qualified midwife and a dedicated clinic for expectant and new mothers. Funding for a midwife was secured and weekly maternal clinics were established by 1924.
In 1929 Ethel travelled to New Zealand to study its maternity care systems. This informed her subsequent work with the National Executive for Maternity Welfare in the UK.
In 1939 the Nant y Glyn Maternity Home was opened here at Plas Tirion, followed by an adjacent clinic at Myrtle Villa. This achievement, funded by a loan secured from the Welsh Board of Health, was largely due to Ethel’s efforts.
The maternity home was expanded in 1946. Alderman Hovey personally endowed the labour ward and funded essential medical equipment, including incubators.
In 1952, in recognition of her tireless dedication to public welfare, Ethel was awarded the Freedom of the Borough of Colwyn Bay. Her Purple Plaque was unveiled in July 2025.
With thanks to Gemma Campbell
Postcode: LL29 7RB View Location Map
Website of Conwy Archive Service
Purple Plaques website – celebrating remarkable women in Wales