Ann glanville

Deceased 1880

Suggested by Sally Atkins and Pamela Jones

Ann Glanville was born in Saltash as Ann Warren. ⁠

After her husband fell ill Ann took on his trade working as a waterman to support her family of 14 children. She worked long hours running the ferry service, taking goods by water across Plymouth harbour.⁠

⁠Ann championed rowing for women, organising a crew of female rowers, who gained notoriety for the white caps and dresses they wore out on the water. Ann and her crew are recorded as winning a second place in Plymouth Regatta in 1833. Ann continued competitive rowing for a further 15 years into her sixties and achieved national celebrity for rowing a four-oared waterman's boat.

⁠We think this photo of the commemorative statue of Ann in Saltash is interesting: Ann is sitting passively with hands folded looking out over the Tamar with a statue of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, celebrated man of industry, standing a few metres distant, his stature enhanced by his top hat, looking proudly at his well known engineering achievement, The Tamar Rail Bridge. ⁠