JaneJ Why have women of privilege not been able to carry on doing this stuff in modern times?
It s because there were never more than very few women who managed to get any kind of education, let alone have enough and the opportunity to develop it, as they did. Family would forbid it, or if a woman married, between child bearing and rearing and, often running a large household, they had no time to do it.
Florence Nightingale had to fight to be allowed to develop a life of her own, as did many other women pioneers. Women like Ladsy Mary were exceptionally exceptional that they combined their science wwith marriage and a family.
It continues until today. Many more boys study science subjects and maths than girls.
To think that London, or anywhere else for that matter, does not belong to any one demographic