Lord's, cricket's most iconic ground, has been hosting international matches since 1884. It staged its first women's international in 1976, a 50-over match between England and Australia.
It took another 50 years for a women's Test, scheduled for four days from Friday, to be held at the ground owned by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), which prohibited women members until 1999.
Put in to bat, opener Smriti Mandhana (83) held firm as India lost two quick wickets, before Issy Wong had her caught behind.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur (58) and Deepti Sharma (57) helped the visitors to post 285, while Sophie Ecclestone (3-68) took the last three wickets in quick succession.
In reply, England posted only 170 as 22-year-old Indian medium-pacer Kranti Gaud took 5-37. She became the first woman to have her name inscribed on the Lord's Test honours board, reserved for those who score a century, take five wickets in an innings or 10 in a Test at the ground.
Two more women soon joined Gaud on the board as Indian wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia (113) scored a crucial century, while Ecclestone (5-118) shone again with a five-wicket haul. India declared at 7-341 on the third day, setting a target of 457.
Under pressure, England's top order collapsed as Gaud dismissed Tamsin Beaumont and Heather Knight early, leaving the hosts reeling at 4-34.
Mady Villiers (26) tried to limit the damage but fell when Richa Ghosh at silly mid-off spectacularly caught a well-timed cover drive, leaving even her teammates shaking their heads in disbelief.
Amy Jones (54) fell early on the fourth day but Ecclestone continued the fight, scoring her first Test 50 before Sneh Rana (4-42) bowled her, ending England's chase.
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