North of England Council for Promoting the Higher Education of Women

The North of England Council for Promoting the Higher Education of Women (NECPHEW), inspired by Anne Clough, was established in November 1867.

[2] At its first meeting, Ladies' Educational Associations were represented by Elizabeth Wolstenholme from Manchester and Lucy Wilson from Leeds.

Clough became honorary secretary and Josephine Butler took office as its president, a position she held until she stood down in 1871.

[3] Wolstenholme drew up the rules and her friend, the academic James Stuart gave a series of lectures for women in astronomy.

[7] A number of the council's members also belonged to the Education for Girls Committee of the Royal Society of Arts which, from 1871, had aligned itself with the aims of NECPHEW.