A MEMORIAL dedicated to an inspirational Salisbury woman will be installed on a city building next week.

Salisbury Civic Society and Salisbury Soroptimists will be unveiling a blue plaque dedicated to Frances Hale on April 13 outside the Cosy Club on New Street.

There are currently many blue plaques around the city but only four celebrate women, this will be the fifth.

Frances Hale's life was researched as part of Salisbury Soroptimists' project Her Salisbury Story.

The project also inspired the current exhibition at Salisbury Museum.

Salisbury Journal:

Frances Hale inherited the building business that her father had passed to her husband.

Once widowed, Frances expanded the workforce from less than two dozen to more than 400.

She built several notable buildings around Salisbury; the Cosy Club, formerly the Literary and Scientific Institute, and the corner of High Street and Fisherton Street, now used by Barclays Bank, it was originally Richardson's Wine Store.

She restored Britford Church and built part of St Peter's Church in Bournemouth, extended St Paul's Church and built the Congregational Church on Fisherton Street.

As an aid to recruitment, Mrs Hale used to make sure that newspapers reported the summer outings which she organised for her workforce. The firm also had a cricket team playing in local competitions.

To view the plans click here.