Remembering Resistance is focused on the last 100 years of women's protest and campaigning. However, to make sure we don't overlook the vital role early female
activists played in helping improving society and the position of women, we will be
featuring some of their stories here.
If you've got a story about a woman you think deserves to be told, get in touch.
activists played in helping improving society and the position of women, we will be
featuring some of their stories here.
If you've got a story about a woman you think deserves to be told, get in touch.
selina martin |
Written and researched by Ted Jones
Selina Martin
On the 23rd of August 1972 in The Hermitage Care Home, Caton, Mrs Selina Duckworth died and was buried in an unmarked grave in Lancaster Top Cemetery. Selina, was born in Ulverston, Lancashire in 1882, and moved to Lancaster sometime in the 1880’s.
Selina was known to be a member of the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU). The WSPU was the Militant wing of the Suffragette movement. She carried out a number of actions as part of the Suffragette campaign, was imprisoned as a result and acquired something of a celebrity status in her home town.
Her first arrest was in 1908. There was a rally in Parliament Square in London in which at least 60,000 gathered to protest at the degrading way in which women were treated in the Legal and Political spheres.
A group of Protesters rushed the Houses of Parliament and tried to gain entrance. Thirty seven were arrested, including Selina who was found stood on a wall nearby. Refusing the conditions of her bail ‘To keep the peace’ she was sentenced to 1 month’s imprisonment in Holloway Jail. After release, she was again arrested in March 1909.
In 1909, she was seen to throw a Ginger Beer bottle through the window of the Prime Minister, Mr. Asquith’s car. For this horrific and dastardly act she was sentenced to 2 month’s in prison or a fine of 40 shillings. She elected to go to prison. As a matter of principle, Militant Suffragettes chose to go to prison instead of paying the fine.
When the Prime Minister was speaking in Birmingham on 17th September 1909 at a meeting, she was arrested and charged with ‘Assaulting a policeman and a citizen’, under the name of Mary Edwards. She was given a sentence of 6 weeks in Winson Green Goal. Because of the bad ventilation in this prison she asked if she could get ‘some fresh air’. On refusal she took matters into her own hands and opened the windows ‘permanently’ with her shoe! Anything else that was in reach was similarly destroyed. As a result she was handcuffed; she escaped from these and was again cuffed in much smaller ones with her hands behind her back causing her to roll in agony on the floor. At this time, in common with other imprisoned Suffragettes she went on Hunger Strike and was force-fed.
As a result of Selina’s, and other ‘Heroic Ladies’, efforts and suffering the light was ‘Partly’ switched on! When women, finally, are treated in all walks of life as true equals then, at last, may Selina and her sisters rest peacefully.
In my research I am indebted to Mrs. Joan Dent, Mrs Christine Workman and Mrs Lisa Hudson.
Selina was known to be a member of the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU). The WSPU was the Militant wing of the Suffragette movement. She carried out a number of actions as part of the Suffragette campaign, was imprisoned as a result and acquired something of a celebrity status in her home town.
Her first arrest was in 1908. There was a rally in Parliament Square in London in which at least 60,000 gathered to protest at the degrading way in which women were treated in the Legal and Political spheres.
A group of Protesters rushed the Houses of Parliament and tried to gain entrance. Thirty seven were arrested, including Selina who was found stood on a wall nearby. Refusing the conditions of her bail ‘To keep the peace’ she was sentenced to 1 month’s imprisonment in Holloway Jail. After release, she was again arrested in March 1909.
In 1909, she was seen to throw a Ginger Beer bottle through the window of the Prime Minister, Mr. Asquith’s car. For this horrific and dastardly act she was sentenced to 2 month’s in prison or a fine of 40 shillings. She elected to go to prison. As a matter of principle, Militant Suffragettes chose to go to prison instead of paying the fine.
When the Prime Minister was speaking in Birmingham on 17th September 1909 at a meeting, she was arrested and charged with ‘Assaulting a policeman and a citizen’, under the name of Mary Edwards. She was given a sentence of 6 weeks in Winson Green Goal. Because of the bad ventilation in this prison she asked if she could get ‘some fresh air’. On refusal she took matters into her own hands and opened the windows ‘permanently’ with her shoe! Anything else that was in reach was similarly destroyed. As a result she was handcuffed; she escaped from these and was again cuffed in much smaller ones with her hands behind her back causing her to roll in agony on the floor. At this time, in common with other imprisoned Suffragettes she went on Hunger Strike and was force-fed.
As a result of Selina’s, and other ‘Heroic Ladies’, efforts and suffering the light was ‘Partly’ switched on! When women, finally, are treated in all walks of life as true equals then, at last, may Selina and her sisters rest peacefully.
In my research I am indebted to Mrs. Joan Dent, Mrs Christine Workman and Mrs Lisa Hudson.
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katherine bruce glasierWritten and researched by Nick Moule and Bob Abel
Katherine Bruce Glasier was one of the most influential activists in the international Labour movement in the early 20th Century. Katherine was a founder member of the Independent Labour Party (ILP), a lifelong campaigner, an impressive speaker, author of many articles, and a close friend of early pioneers of the Labour movement. Keir Hardy considered her the 'mother of the ILP'. In her obituary in the Manchester Guardian in 1950, she was summed up as being ‘a Socialist evangelist [whose] speeches had the emotional force of a revivalist’.
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East Lancashire and the South Pennines has a history of non-conformism/radical thinkers, including female activists in the 19th and 20th centuries. Often connected to the cotton industry, and other traditional industries they campaigned for better living conditions and greater equality. These women included the likes of Ethel Snowden and Selina Cooper, and more recently Barbara Castle MP and Jeanette Winterson. Katherine Glasier was one such person.
Katharine was born in London in 1867 and went on to be one of the earliest women students at Cambridge University. Although Cambridge University refused to award degrees to women, she usually listed BA after her name in defiance of this sexual discrimination. Subsequently, her true political expression was found in the Independent Labour Party. She was on the committee that convened the inaugural conference of the Independent Labour Party (ILP) and was the only woman elected to the ILP National Administrative Council. Despite having the major role in bringing up their children, Katharine still travelled extensively and spoke at meetings around the country, but turned to writing as a way of earning a living. In 1916 Katharine became the editor of the Labour Leader, a publication that she had written for extensively.
Much of her later emphasis revolved around campaigning for the weak and oppressed. She played an important part in campaigning for poor law reform, and in the beginnings of the Nursery School Movement, becoming vice president of the Nursery School Association as well as being active in Save the Children. Katharine also led the campaign to help working class housewives by persuading mine owners to install pit head baths so that grime and coal dust were left at the colliery and not brought to the home.
Katharine was born in London in 1867 and went on to be one of the earliest women students at Cambridge University. Although Cambridge University refused to award degrees to women, she usually listed BA after her name in defiance of this sexual discrimination. Subsequently, her true political expression was found in the Independent Labour Party. She was on the committee that convened the inaugural conference of the Independent Labour Party (ILP) and was the only woman elected to the ILP National Administrative Council. Despite having the major role in bringing up their children, Katharine still travelled extensively and spoke at meetings around the country, but turned to writing as a way of earning a living. In 1916 Katharine became the editor of the Labour Leader, a publication that she had written for extensively.
Much of her later emphasis revolved around campaigning for the weak and oppressed. She played an important part in campaigning for poor law reform, and in the beginnings of the Nursery School Movement, becoming vice president of the Nursery School Association as well as being active in Save the Children. Katharine also led the campaign to help working class housewives by persuading mine owners to install pit head baths so that grime and coal dust were left at the colliery and not brought to the home.
Earby Hostel, Katherine's home for much of her life
She lived from 1922 until her death in 1950 at Glen Cottage, Earby near Colne. Subsequently her home, the two adjacent cottages, and adjoining land were purchased by a memorial fund in her name. It was decided that, because of her involvement in young peoples’ issues, the cottages should be converted into a youth hostel which was handed over to the Youth Hostel Association (YHA) as a perpetual memorial to Katharine and what she stood for. The village and community of Earby are justifiably proud of Glen Cottage, and collectively with Earby Town Council and Pendle Council, have played a vital role in supporting the YHA hostel and are now ensuring its continuing development as an independent hostel in her memory.
Header image: LSE Library - https://www.flickr.com/photos/lselibrary/22785230005. No restrictions. https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=52003951