A former Carlisle councillor is reviving a campaign to honour the women that helped shape the history of the city.

Elsie Martlew, who represented Castle ward until earlier this year, wants to honour the famous ‘cracker packers’ – the women of Carr’s Biscuits – in the shadow of the factory at Paddy’s Market.

Two years ago Carlisle-born writer Hunter Davies, who told their story in his book The Biscuit Girls , said the workers deserved the same recognition as Queen Victoria, who has a statue in a section of Bitts Park.

Mr Davies suggested that a statue should be erected in the city to commemorate their work and Mrs Martlew is now looking to push the plans forward.

“If you look around the city, nearly all the statues are of men who were in a position of authority,” she told The Cumberland News.

“But in actual fact, the women in the biscuit factory – the cracker packers – were the ones who brought the wealth to Carlisle.

“In the textile factories, the majority of people working there were also women.

“Although they weren’t involved as much in the heavy industries, they played a big part in the history of Carlisle.

“There are things in the city that tell the history of the Romans but there’s a lot more than that.”

Mrs Martlew says she has already identified a potential site where a statue could be placed and has raised the possibility with the city council.

“We’ve got a plinth down at Paddy’s Market that I think would be a great place for a statue,” she said.

“Although I’m no longer a city councillor I’ve already spoken to Colin Glover (council leader) about the idea and I’ll be lobbying the city council about it.

“Steve Matthews (chairman of Carlisle business group) is also very keen as well and Hunter Davies has very generously offered £5,000 towards the cost, if something goes ahead.”

Mrs Martlew, whose family has numerous close links to the Caldewgate area of Carlisle, said that if a statue of the cracker packers is erected, it could be an opportunity to tell the rest of the city’s rich history.

“There’s so much that has been neglected,” she added.

“For example, many people don’t know that Carlisle had a canal or a tram shed. There’s also the history of Cowans, which made cranes which were sent all over the world.

“There are also links to the Jacobite rebellion and the Chartist movement that have been forgotten as well.

“It would be great to be able to tell all the forgotten or lesser-told stories of Carlisle.”

Were you or any of your family a ‘cracker packer’? What are your memories of working there? Write to: The Editor, The Cumberland News, Newspaper House, Dalston Road, Carlisle CA2 5UA. Email: letters@ cumbrian-newspapers. co.uk.