Two letters from a Preston suffragette, Grace Alderman, to Ronald Towler, the son of a fellow suffragette, are held at Lancashire Archives (DDX575/4). Grace, who was chair of the Preston Women’s Social and Political Union, wrote them in 1964 when she was near the end of her life. They contain a great deal of information about the suffragette movement in Preston some fifty years earlier.
Margaret Keane, of the Preston Friends of Edith Rigby group, and I came across them independently in the archives recently. Margaret asked me to post them here. Included below are a pdf of the letters (reproduced with permission of Lancashire Archives) and a transcription (Grace’s grammar and spellings have not been corrected). If viewing on a mobile device, download the pdf file to read. The first letter is lengthy and contains the most information; the second is much shorter, the writing covering just a sheet and a half.
The intention of this short introduction is not to tease out all the interesting references in the letters (and there are many), but to give a taste of what they contain. More information on the Preston suffragettes, including the ones mentioned in the letters, is being gathered by members of the Friends of Edith Rigby group. The group is building a Preston suffragettes database that will be put online and should become the go-to place for anyone studying the suffragettes’ rich and fascinating history.
The Friends of Edith Rigby have a website and a Facebook page.
Eighteen Preston suffragettes are mentioned in the letters. Some, such as Edith Rigby who the Friends are named after, are already well known, but others are now long forgotten (hopefully, the research team at the Friends will provide their biographies).
A preliminary reading suggests that most of the suffragettes were middle class (unlike the Preston Word War One conscientious objectors, who followed the suffragettes in suffering for their beliefs). For example, census returns show that Grace and her mother, the widow of a solicitor, lived on their private means and employed a servant. Another example is the artist Patti Mayor, mentioned by Grace in her letter, who along with her mother and sister, was one of the suffragettes. They lived in the new the middle-class district in Ashton.
There were working-class suffragettes in Preston such as the Mrs Burke, a charlady who cleaned for Grace and her mother and for another Preston suffragette. It was Mrs Burke who told Grace and her mother about Edith Rigby. Grace tells us a bit about Mrs Burke’s life in her first letter:
‘Mother and I didn’t even know Mrs Rigby by sight – we came to live in Preston in 1898 – total strangers but we had heard about Mrs Rigby – through Mrs Burke, she used to be on Fishergate on Wednesday mornings selling flowers.
Mrs Burke went out charring and washing – she had had a bad husband and he knocked her about so before her youngest child Johnny was born that this child was mentally deficient.
Mrs Burke came to us Mondays to wash and Fridays to help with the housework well Johny would be about 9 and was a big boy and becoming un-manageable and Mrs Rigby helped Mrs Burke to get him into a Home either at Lancaster or between Preston and there and we knew from Mrs Burke what a really kind and efficient person Mrs Rigby was.’
The political leanings of those Preston suffragettes can perhaps be gauged from the naming of the children of one of their number, a Mrs Worthington: Kier (for Hardy) and Christabel (for Pankhurst).
The Quakers’ Lodge,
85, Broomfield Road,
Chelmsford,
Essex
20th September 1964
Dear Mr Ronald Towler,
It was indeed a pleasure to have your letter, your Mother was one of the founder members of the Preston Branch of the W.S.P.U she and I and Mrs Hesmondhalgh and Mrs Edith Rigby were all in Holloway Gaol early in February 1908.
This was Mrs Edith Rigby’s 3rd imprisonment – by rights her sentence should only have been a fortnight – but six weeks was handed out to all – but Mrs Rigby was given a month in the 3rd Division – she wasn’t in the same block and wore the brown uniform and she had less food – skilly [?] – after a few days she was put in with us again.
I think the authorities thought she would manage to question other prisoners and find out things they would rather not be known publicly.
Before then Mrs Burrows and Miss Jennie Jackson had also been in Holloway along with her.
There were four of you – quite young, when your mother was active in the women’s movement, I remember your father also.
Mother and I didn’t even know Mrs Rigby by sight – we came to live in Preston in 1898 – total strangers but we had heard about Mrs Rigby – through Mrs Burke, she used to be on Fishergate on Wednesday mornings selling flowers –
Mrs Burke went out charing and washing – she had had a bad husband and he knocked her about so before her youngest child Johnny was born that this child was mentally deficient –
Mrs Burke came to us Mondays to wash and Fridays to help with the housework well Johny would be about 9 and was a big boy and becoming un-manageable and Mrs Rigby helped Mrs Burke to get him into a Home either at Lancaster or between Preston and there and we knew from Mrs Burke what a really kind and efficient person Mrs Rigby was – So when there was a notice in the Lancashire Evening Post that there was going to be a Public Meeting at Lune Street Chapel Mother and I went and we saw Mrs Rigby for the first time – and joined the Branch of the W.S.P.U before it was formed actually –
It is all part of the History of Preston and should be recorded and best done by those who took part in the events – and dates matter – most Towns have a Borough Archivist – if he isn’t looking this matter up himself he should be prodded into it –
Mrs Burrows had one or two sons – Mrs Horne had 4 boys – Mrs Worthington had Keir and Christabel – you are sure to remember Mr and Mrs Pass? The first W.S.P.U. committee was held in the Dentists reception room which was in the Flat they occupied over the Boots Shoe Shop Mr Pass managed.
We met there until we found rooms down Glovers’ Court – we were on the top floor above the Shop Assistants Union and the ground floor was occupied by a Mr someone a TEA MERCHANT.
I can remember some of the members dear old Mrs Flannery – and there was a Mrs someone a keen spiritualist and she had one daughter – There was Mrs Quale – and Mrs France with her 3 little girls Fanny Martha and May and Mrs Tewson (or should it be Tuson) I think she had a son –
Dr Rayners daughter Mrs Phoebe Hesketh is writing a book about “My Aunt Edith” and had asked me for what I can remember in those days but I can’t remember the date of getting this Petition of Women Ratepayers –
Since my letter appeared I have heard from Miss Reeder, she was one who collected signatures but didn’t tell me the date –
There was the time when a Cabinet Minister in the Liberal Government of that date was coming to address a meeting in the Corn Exchange and that building was begun to be boarded up on the Thursday prior to the meeting on the Saturday –
It was a nine days wonder, people came in from places all round Preston to see it.
The Cabinet Minister gave us the slip by leaving the London train stopped at Lostock Hall station – and driving in by Taxi, we hadn’t thought of that and were properly done!
All through the Summer we held open air meetings on the Market Square – afternoons and evenings – our platform a lorry with the horse taken out and the shafts left down – until after the evening meeting when the horse was brought to take the lorry back.
I think Annie Kenney was the principle speaker at that first Public Meeting – I have seen her sister Jessie Kenney at Prisoner’ DAY which we keep up on 13th October, she married a Mr Taylor and had 2 sons.
I have seen Mr Taylor at the above meeting.
Miss Ainsworth, the Treasurer I have kept up with and the two Miss Nowels – one married and lived at Ashton – they were members – they had two elder sisters – dressmakers but these two did not approve of our Militant Methods.
One of our local Papers the Essex Chronicle has been going for 200 years and has a copy of every week of all those years –
I can hardly keep awake but hope you will help in keeping the memory of this great struggle for Votes for Women alive and established.
Yours Sincerely Grace M. Alderman
P.S.
I think a list in Chronological order might be a good idea by a group of these descendants of our Preston Women would be a good idea to make out, while some of the original members of the Preston W.S.P.U. and are still alive and their memories can be tapped.
Memory is fitful after a certain age – it doesn’t remember when wanted, and all of a sudden something else will bring it to mind – take my advice never get old –
But to return to Votes for Women Did Mrs Rigby go alone on deputation to Parliament? the first time or did someone from Preston (I.L.P. most likely) go with her? When it came to forming the Preston Branch all the others knew her – Mother and I didn’t.
I think it was Annie Kenney who was principal speaker at that first Public Meeting.
She came to Preston several times – one time with Adela Pankhurst – the youngest – she married and went to live in Australia and died only a year or two ago.
Lady Constance Lytton also spoke at an indoor meeting at the Guildhall – The Lyttons don’t live at their Ancestral Home now (Knebsworth) near Hitchin, Herts.,
Our Field Club visited it as an Historic Mansion – a niece was living there – her Husband was Cobbold – his name was on £ notes – was he Director of Bank of England?
These wasn’t the least memento of Lady Constance Lytton – in days to come she will be remembered for her stand for Votes for Women and be held in greater respect than her Father Viceroy of India. I know this from what has happened in past times – history does repeat itself –
Lady C. thought she had been given preferential treatment and released from Holloway (because of who she was) before finishing her sentence –
She was an extremely delicate woman, with a bad heart –
So she disguised herself as a Working Woman – gave her name as Jane Wharton and was arrested during a demonstration at Manchester.
Her people thought she was on a Speaking Tour for the W.S.P.U but when they didn’t hear from her enquired at London headquarters and they didn’t know her where abouts so then her people wrote round the likely Prison Governors and she was found –
She had disguised everything of her identity – but forgot her handkerchief and that gave her away. So they released her on Health grounds from Manchester PRISON.
You will think I am asking for a lot to be done – but there should be a section in the Borough Library at Preston of books dealing with the Militant Campaign –
Christabel Pankhurst she wrote a book “Unshackled” there is a life of Mrs Pankhurst –
At Preston Mrs Rigby gave a Paper on Why we use Militant Methods at a Liberal Working Men’s Club – in the discussion afterwards an old man who had been in the Chartist movement they got you men your vote said that the Chartists expected this addition to the Franchise to include Women but when the Bill was passed the Women had been left out. History does repeat itself, the very same thing happened with the Conciliation Bill during our campaign – it had passed 2nd reading in the House of Commons.
But before it was to come before Parliament Lloyd George had a big meeting in the Albert Hall during which he advised Liberals not to support the Conciliation Bill on the grounds that it was on a too narrow basis, he was going to introduce a Bill in Parliament which would be on a wider basis in extending the suffrage.
And he did – and it didn’t have womens votes in it at all – is it any wonder that some of us have never joined any Political Party.
Mine is a beautifuly Independent Vote, any of the three Candidates can come and get it, I am looking forward to the General Election –
About the 1910 Census, all over England W.S.P.U. either didn’t fill in the Form or were missing on the night.
We were living on Broadgate and had 3 Boarders filled their names in but not our own.
When the man called for the paper he told me “You can be fined £5 for not filling in this Form –” He WAS ever so mad when I said “Oh, we are going to have £5 pounds worth” –
We never were summoned though, it would have been a shew up for the Authorities –
I know where 40 W.S.P.U. members spent that night Ha! Ha!
Mrs Hesmondhalgh at Bognor Regis must know a lot of secrets where she and Mrs Rigby were at night – sometimes Husbands went with them because courting couples were not suspected.
The Branch Members all understood that Patty Mayor had given that painting of the Half Timer which was mounted as a Banner by one of her brothers, and carried by Preston W.S.P.U. members in one of those big rallies in Hyde Park when Processions started from seven parts of London and converged on Hyde Park where there were 7 Platforms and 7 Speakers.
Patty Mayor said she was shewing her painting to a professional buyer and he gave her £80 for it –
The Half Timer who sat for the Portrait was grown up and married then –
This was when the Queen and Prince Phillip visited Preston as part of their Tour of the Duchy of Lancaster.
I was staying with Mrs Higginson at Applegarth in Warterloo Road Ashton and she was a labour Member of the Preston Corporation and we had seats outside the Free Library and saw the Queen and Prince Phillip quite well but I can’t remember the date when this was.
Mrs Higginson was a great stalwart when she did join the Preston W.S.P.U. – she had an invalid Husband – and he may have been a hindrance to her joining.
But it took a lot of persuasion on Mrs Rigby’s part to get her in –
But your mother and the rest of us joined the militants because The Spirit moved us – and we were not the “somebodys somethings” either –
That class held aloof but at last formed a Branch of the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies usually known as non-militants.
Our mother was a constitutionalist member of this organisation before I was born (1885) and Father, a solicitor was in favour of women having the vote – he died in 1896 – had heart disease, only aged 39.
If this picture of the Half Timer is ever for sale (keep a look out for it) and try to get the Harris Art Gallery Committee to buy it.
All this is just not to egg you on on your own, try and find someone who is interested in the Town’s History before it is too late to learn something from someone “Who is a living Witness” as the Quakers say – they once asked me to give a Talk on our militant campaign – one week night with Discussion afterwards –
Once I got started I never shut up – and it too much for me –
and in the following discussion one member pointed out that quite a number of women never joined the militants did they?
I felt like saying “Lots don’t join the Ban the Bomb campaign either” but it would not have been polite –
I am against the Bomb for the wrong reason and when the Quaker’s here were going to start a Campaign I told them Do as the militants did –
Keep on – Keeping on – it is the only way to bring anything about –
I only support them with the half-crown yearly subscription and if they want that they must come and get it – they shouldn’t expect anyone of my age 79½ to have to bother to go to the Post Office to buy a Postal Order –
The fact of the matter is the old heart doesn’t go properly in the morning – later on in the day it improves –
I can Keep on Keeping on writing because I am warm and comfortable in bed, propped up on pillows – quite different to the Plank bed your mother and the rest of the W.S.P.U Prisoners had to put up with in Gaols all over England –
The Suffragette Fellowship keep up Prisoners’ Day on 13th October – fewer of us each year – Mrs Hesmondhalgh can’t come now, I hope to go this year in case I can’t manage next year – there has to be a last time –
The Secretary is Miss Stella Newsone
26. West End Lane
London N.W.6 __
Couldn’t some representative of our Preston Prisoners attend? They would be very welcome indeed.
On account of our age it is an early meeting now – beginning with tea and then Speakers __ anyone interested should write to Stella Newsome __ it would
FOLLOWING SHEET IS MISSING
Conservative M.P. also spoke – have forgotten her name, but she was dressed in Tory Blue a good tip for a woman speaker at a non-Party meeting – I don’t know what colours Liberals and Labour have it varies in different parts of the country –
Anti-Slavery is one of the reforms your Mother suffered imprisonment for – it wasn’t just to Vote, but the use of the Vote which spurred us on –
Looking back our generation were fortunate to have that opportunity to give our time and energies to such a good cause there is still plenty for women to reform yet –
The following generation missed the way somehow –
We didn’t stay cold and hungry__cooped up like lions and tigers in Prison Cells so that women could appear in Public in slacks tights or shorts they can please themselves or their husbands at home –
I knew someone who contemplated buying Slacks but her Husband told her “If you do I won’t walk on the same side of the road as you” so she never – that was soon settled!
Yours sincerely
Grace M. Alderman
Second letter
Late on Monday night
21st September
Dear Mr Ronald Towler
I have had a letter from Miss Reeder in reply to mine published in the Lancashire [‘Daily’ crossed out] Evening Post
her address is 144, new Hall Lane, Preston
she also gave me Miss Bailey’s address which is
[blank space with the following address ‘5 French Knowle PRESTON’ inserted in red ink four lines down]
It would be a kindness if you would forward this lengthy P.S. to Miss Reeder and ask her to send it on to Miss Bailey [the above address inserted here]
I feel unable to write it to each of them yet at the same time very anxious that the Preston Militant Suffragettes should be remembered for the great reform they helped to bring about through their courage and persistence and the spread of knowledge of the unfairness to which women WERE treated at that time –
G. M. A –
(Grace)