Hastings Station, Activists often travelled to London. June1908: suffragists, including Jane Strickland, joined some 10,000 women on a huge NUWSSorganised demonstration in London. Days later a contingent of St Leonards and Hastings suffragettes took part in a mammoth WSPU march, culminating in Hyde Park.
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1910: Isabella Darent Harrison (Women’s Suffrage Propaganda League) and WSPU co-founder Mary Clarke in women’s suffrage procession through Hastings. rom small beginnings in the 1870s to the outbreak of World War 1 in 1914, Hastings women, like women elsewhere, campaigned for the right to vote. It was a long, hard campaign. A lot of action took place in and around the Trinity Triangle, which housed the headquarters of the militant WSPU, the suffragettes. Their offices are long gone but thanks to Historic England’s regeneration programme, you can use this map to follow their footsteps. get the vote by any means Hastings resident Barbara possible even if that meant Bodichon played a key role in breaking the law. Both groups sparking off the nationwide opened local offices, marched, campaign. She drew up a and invited well-known petition demanding votes for activists, such as Emmeline women, which was presented Pankhurst to speak at packed to the House of Commons public venues. in 1867. It failed but by the Local campaigners, such 1880s Hastings women were as suffragist Jane Strickland raising their voices, meeting organised meetings and in their homes and setting wrote constantly to the local up suffrage groups. As time press. Others such as Isabella passed, hundreds of local Darent Harrison defied the women became involved. law, refusing to pay their taxes. Most were suffragists, who campaigned using law-abiding All contributed to a glorious victory in 1918 when some methods only. Others were women finally gained the vote. suffragettes, determined to
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Part of a heritage high street regeneration programme funded by Historic England. Enabling neglected historic areas to be brought back to life.
1 Havelock Road, site of Green’s Hotel. May 1913: furious anti-suffragists smash windows, believing suffragists were taking shelter there.
32 Havelock Road, in January 1884 a newlyformed suffrage committee meets for the first time.
7 Havelock Road, site of the Suffrage Club, where non-militant suffragists met regularly. May 1913: anti-suffrage rioters besieged the club.
Route of Women’s Suffrage March 1910 31 White Rock, 1908: local suffragists open an office.
7 Regency Mansions, Verulam Place, home of Jane Strickland, well-known local suffragist and member of the Women’s Liberal Association.
Trinity Triangle area See detailed map overleaf for suffragette and suffragist activity in this area.
Trinity Tria Hastings in ty vi ti c a e g ra ff women’s su
9 Pelham Crescent, home of Barbara Bodichon (1827-91), artist, activist and key figure in the development of the women’s movement. Framed petition calling for the women’s vote, 1867. Beach: site of many open-air suffrage meetings.
Postcard found at Levetleigh
Flames and riots
Militancy increased as the government frustrated women’s attempts to win the vote. In 1913 the WSPU launched an arson campaign, which included torching Tory MP Arthur du Cros’ house, ‘Levetleigh’, in Dane Road, St Leonards. For more information, Local suffragettes were not responsible see Turbulent Spinsters: Women’s Fight for the Vote but in May groups of anti-suffragists in Hastings & St Leonards, stormed through Hastings venting their anger on local suffragists and Ann Kramer (Circaidy suffragettes. Gregory Press, 2018). Leaflet published in 2021 Words: Ann Kramer Design: Erica Smith Cover drawing: Emily Johns
Baptist School Room, Wellington Square. Women’s Liberal Association passes resolution demanding votes for women.
, S G N I T E E M MARCHES M! IVISf & ACngT le : the heart o
B November 1912: Local suffragettes parade on seafront with posters advertising public meeting with guest speaker Emmeline Pankhurst.
www.trinitytrianglehastings.org.uk
Trinity Triangle boundary Hastings High Street Heritage Action Zone which focuses on Trinity Triangle 8: 29 Havelock Road
4: 59 (now 33) Cambridge Road 1884: meeting held here to launch local suffrage group.
C November 1912 Activists, including local suffragette Elsie Bowerman, assemble outside WSPU headquarters in Claremont.
3: Holy Trinity Church, May 1913: home-made bomb found; local suffragettes deny responsibility for both bombs.
5: 8 Trinity Street, 1911–12: WSPU HQ and meeting place. Very busy, becomes too small so move to 8a Claremont (1).
7: Public Hall (Hastings & St Leonards Central Assembly Rooms) Many suffrage meetings are held here including (November 1912), a huge public meeting where Emmeline Pankhurst defends militancy and exhorts the audience to fight on. See photograph E.
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2: Brassey Institute (now the Library) May 1913: homemade bomb found on staircase. 1: 8A Claremont June 1912–14: WSPU HQ, shop, meeting place — a constant hive of activity.
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Route of 1910 Women’ Suffrage March
HOLY TRINITY CHURCH
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NUWSS: National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies. Founded 1897. Suffragists. WSPU: Women’s Social and Political Union. Founded 1903. Suffragettes.
Office and depot of non-militant Hastings & St Leonards & East Sussex Women’s Suffrage Society, become local branch of NUWSS. 1909 membership more than 100.
TOWN HALL
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9: Gaiety Theatre March 1914: More than 50 WSPU members protest outside during showing of A Place in the Sun, a play about women’s rights. They hand out leaflets demanding the release of Mrs Pankhurst and others from prison.
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Local suffragettes and suffragists organised huge meetings in the Public Hall (7). NUWSS president, Millicent Fawcett spoke in November 1911; Emmeline Pankhurst spoke November 1912 (above). Local women’s banners adorned the hall. Photos and cartoon first published in The Hastings Pictorial Advertiser.
WELLINGTON SQUARE
Left: local suffragette and Titanic survivor Elsie Bowerman ‘soliciting subscriptions from passers-by’ for the suffrage cause during a Self-Denial Week.
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6: Metropole Hall, WSPU hold weekly ‘at homes’ every Monday afternoon. February 1914 stage suffrage play, Anti-Matilda.
November 1912 Local suffragettes advertise public meeting.
10: Castle Hotel, 1908: suffragettes Christabel Pankhurst, Flora Drummond and Nellie Martell, down from London, are forced to take refuge after being mobbed in Wellington Square.
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Beach opposite Denmark Place: site of many open-air suffrage meetings.
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