Following the passing of the Representation of the People Act in 1918, which enfranchised some women over 30, the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS), the umbrella organisation for the law-abiding ‘suffragists’, evolved into the National Union of Societies for Equal Citizenship (NUSEC). Like the NUWSS, the re-branded NUSEC drew together and represented smaller … Read more
In this post Abbie Evans interviews Kathy Atherton, a local historian and Exhibitions Team leader at Dorking Museum, and Royal Holloway PhD researcher, Katie Broomfield, about the Citizens project upcoming short film on the Pethick Lawrences and Women’s Suffrage. Abbie: Kathy, can you start by telling our readers about Dorking Museum? Kathy: Of course, Dorking … Read more
February 2018 marks the centenary of the Representation of the People Act, the Act which extended the franchise to (some) women for the first time. Commemorative plans for the centenary are well underway and there is no doubt that this momentous point in British history will get the attention it deserves. However, even at this … Read more
Visitors to our Festival of History back in June may remember having witnessed a suffragette martial arts class. Entitled Jam, Jerusalem & Jui-Jitsu, these demonstrations gave members of the public an insight into one of the many tactics employed by the WSPU as part of their campaign to win the vote. Viewed traditionally as the … Read more
On Saturday 13th June 1908, the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) held a great procession. Its intention was to display the mass support for women’s suffrage. Ten thousand women marched through the streets of London, carrying over 70 banners. These banners were designed by Mary Lowndes, the founder of the Artists’ Suffrage League, … Read more
The argument of the broken window pane is the most valuable argument in modern politics. Emmeline Pankhurst The Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) was founded by Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughters Christabel and Sylvia in 1903. The Pankhursts felt that the constitutional efforts of the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) … Read more
On Sunday 4 June 2017, Royal Holloway opened its magnificent North Quad to the public for the first Festival of History. The festival was organised by the team at Citizens 800, a heritage lottery funded project with schools, museums and other organisations to chart the history of the relationship between the citizen and the British … 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
