Sacrificing their liberty for women's rights

3:11pm Wednesday 19th March 2008

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Exactly 100 years ago two Croydon women were forced to endure the grim conditions of Holloway Prison.

Their crimes amounted to obstructing police in London and harassing Ministers at their homes by ringing their bells in a bid to force the Government to grant votes for women.

Unlike the Pankhursts or Emily Davison, the names of Mary Pearson and Mrs Dempsey from the Women's Freedom League (WFL), are not recorded in any books about universal suffrage and the role of Croydon women in the suffragette movement has largely been forgotten in history.

However, they and many hundreds like them were vital to the votes for women campaign.

From 1907 to 1914 suffrage societies in Croydon grew rapidly in size and number. Because of the town's close proximity to central London, women could travel to take part in marches and protests.

They were often arrested and fined or imprisoned for their activism but could always count on the support of their local networks.

When Mary Pearson and Mrs Dempsey returned after six weeks in jail, they were welcomed back with a meeting to celebrate their release on March 14, 1908.

Marion Holmes, president of the WFL, and a Croydon woman who became very prominent in the movement on a national level, chaired the meeting.

A newspaper reported at the time, "She was glad to welcome back to freedom two women who had so bravely suffered for the cause.

"She greatly regretted that Mrs Dempsey was unable to be present as she had been unwell ever since she left Holloway. She was especially sorry as she was to have had the pleasing duty of presenting her with a badge of honour.

"It was awarded for valour, courage and endurance to those who had been brave enough to face the terrors of prison life."

The horror of prison was something that Marion herself had to endure. She was imprisoned for 14 days in Holloway after being arrested along with 57 others for taking part in a Pankhurst-led protest where activists tried to force their way into Parliament.

The newspaper reported how "some hundreds" of suffragettes caused considerable disorder after they clashed with police outside Westminster. A good number of those militant activists were from Croydon.

A member of staff at the local studies library said: "I think the local suffragettes in the branches were the backbone of the movement who kept the votes for women campaign issue alive around the country during the later years of the campaign whilst it's more famous leaders, like the Pankhursts, were in prison or exile."

The courage and determination of the women is certainly evident in the impassioned speeches that they made and not always in front of a friendly crowd.

Between 1907 and 1908 the suffragettes' cause made the front pages of the local press.

One paper reported the kind of antagonism that the women were subject to with its sensationalist headlines: "Suffragettes in Sutton. Riot, Rats and Ruffianism. The Platform Stormed."

The disturbance was caused by young men throwing rats at the women from a balcony forcing them to barricade themselves into a small hall to complete the meeting.

Despite violent opposition they remained dedicated to their cause. At the welcome for Mary Pearson and Mrs Dempsey an activist praised their bravery.

"They were told that their struggle was unconstitutional. Nothing in life is worth having if it is won without a struggle," she said.