Although the writer Mary Hays is unknown to many today, she was an important early feminist, whose ideas were well ahead of her time. She lived in an era when women had few legal and social rights and their options were restricted by social convention. Born in 1759, Hay came from a family of religious … Read more
Saklatvala was a fervent supporter of Indian independence, a strong advocate of the rights of Indian, British and international workers, and a charismatic public speaker. He was an anti-imperialist parliamentarian protesting in the heart of the British Empire. Saklatvala was born into one of India’s wealthiest families; a nephew of J.N. Tata, the founder of … Read more
Overview In 1912, Emmeline Pankhurst’s eldest daughter, Christabel, planned to escalate the WSPU’s militant action by launching an arson campaign. According to Sylvia Pankhurst, “Women, most of them very young, toiled through the night across unfamiliar country carrying heavy cases of petrol and paraffin. Sometimes they failed, sometimes succeeded in setting fire to an untenanted … Read more
While Charlotte Despard is well known for her work as a suffragist, her work with the poor is less recognised. Despard left her upper middle-class life and home in Esher, Surrey to move to one of the most deprived areas of London and improve the lives of the people that lived there. She helped make … Read more
On the morning of 10 March 1914, ‘a small woman… attired in a tight-fitting grey coat and skirt’ entered the National Gallery in London. Wandering through the rooms, she stopped occasionally to sketch the paintings. She came to Velásquez’s The Toilet of Venus (known as the Rokeby Venus), and stood in front of the painting … Read more
‘Nicholaa, not thinking about anything womanly, defended … [Lincoln] castle manfully’[1] Nicholaa de la Haye was a medieval noblewoman who defied the social expectations of her day. She held the office of castellan[2] of Lincoln Castle, successfully defending it during the Battle of Lincoln in 1217, and jointly held the office of sheriff of Lincoln … Read more
In 2013 the Supreme Court ruled that soldiers’ right to life did indeed extend to cover them when they were away from British bases in warzones.[1] The ruling came after a number of families claimed that the Ministry of Defence had breached their relatives right to life by failing to provide adequate equipment, which had … Read more
Oh judging, oh dividing breath! Oh rumour of the winds of death! Bless the martyrs, and accursed The tyrants stand. Ah, not the first This judgement claimed, this challenge cast! – Dear God, if it might be the last! On 4th June 1913 Emily Wilding Davison stepped out in front of the King’s horse … Read more
Four months ago I started as a Project Officer on Royal Holloway’s Heritage Lottery Funded project, Citizens: 800 Years in the Making. At the risk of sounding cliché, time flies when you’re having fun. As I sit and write this, I am left rather bewildered at how these months have flown by. It has felt … Read more
