British Library illuminates life of women in middle ages, revealing an often overlooked detail – their agency

Even in 1480s rural Essex, women were battling the gender pay gap.

On one farm in Stebbing near Braintree in 1483, 27 men and 16 women were hired to bring in the harvest. The men were paid 4p a day – but for Cateryn Lytyll, Marget Pers and the 14 other women, the rate was 3p.

Medieval Women: In Their Own Words is at the British Library in London until 2 March 2025