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Suffragettes In Birmingham

Gathering together the mentions in the above thread....

Birmingham race course, Northfield Carnegie Library, the Cathedral, Cricket Pavillion at the Oratory, the burning of railway carriages in a siding in King’s Norton, arson attack on Bird's Hill house in Perry Barr in July 1913, and Handsworth Park.
 
Mural in Birmingham New Street Station of Hilda Burkitt a Suffragette who was force fed at Winson Green Prison. In 1909 she stoned the prime minster's train at New Street! Made up of 3700 photos of women and girls.

By the People's Picture. Called Face of Suffrage.





 
Good photos Elliot. Lots of interest in the mural and pleasing to see something other than advertising. Thanks for the post.
 
Thanks Radiorails. Saw mention of it on Twitter so popped there when I went to the city centre.
 
Victoria Law Courts, September 1909... "My name is BURKITT, B-U-R-K-l-T-T, not BUCKET." (Laughter)

This is a quote from the Birmingham Daily Gazette, and in October 1909 it reports the treatment Miss Burkitt received in Winsor Green prison. Black days for Birmingham!



478EDBB6-3CAB-467E-9370-B9ECA6CA5627.jpeg976304E8-4AC3-4189-8E4F-7CA8CFF8F31A.jpeg60135998-881C-4620-9733-059A78BFA452.jpeg4B2D72CB-DF73-4C42-9C56-66A809ACA48A.jpeg
 
Blue plaque being unveiled today for Bertha Ryland at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery.

http://www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/bmag/whats-on/blue-plaque-launch-commemorating-bertha-ryland

Blue Plaques can be found across the country commemorating important individuals and their connection with a landmark. In this, the centenary year of the Representation of the People Act, Birmingham Museums and Birmingham Civic Society are proud to unveil a new plaque to suffragette Bertha Ryland.

On 9th of June 1914, Bertha Ryland entered the museum and attacked a painting as part of the militant campaign for women’s right. While we don’t condone her actions, in this special year we honour her principles and the fight for women's rights.
Click to expand...
 
Does anyone know if Bertha Ryland and Louisa Ryland were related in any way? I know that Louisa had no siblings, but the families could be related.
 
In 1907 the Men's League for Women's Suffrage was formed with a branch anticipated to be opened in Birmingham, and in March 1911 an interesting respond to the League by Winston Churchill...

18B568C2-E44E-4476-A539-5E52847A44CF.jpegBAA343D5-4225-42BC-916E-5C5F28878349.jpeg
 
A close look at Winston Churchill and his attitude to women's votes can be found in the book 'Winston Churchill, Myth and Reality.'
A lot of what is claimed is false.
The reason women's pensions were set at 60 years of age not at 65 like the men's was because Churchill insisted upon it as a thank you for their efforts during the war.
 
Eric Gibson said:
A close look at Winston Churchill and his attitude to women's votes can be found in the book 'Winston Churchill, Myth and Reality.'
A lot of what is claimed is false.
The reason women's pensions were set at 60 years of age not at 65 like the men's was because Churchill insisted upon it as a thank you for their efforts during the war.
Click to expand...

I believe the post is relevant to the history of Suffagettes in Birmingham, as it shows that there were some men of Birmingham who supported their cause.

While Churchill, rightly or wrongly, has been accused of many things, the quote attributed to him in the cutting is from reports at the time, and not from over a 100 years later.
 
Rhoda Anstey (1865-1936) was Principal of Anstey College for Girls in Erdington.

After briefly starting in Somerset she moved to the Leasowes in 1907, 6.5 miles from Birmingham. Later in 1907 she relocated to Yew Tree House in Erdington. (See Thread below)

She was a member of the Women’s Political and Social Union and 1909 founder member of Gymnastics Teacher's Suffrage Society and with students took part in suffrage marches. In 1911 she spoilt the Census with an added note No Vote, No census.

CD51E9B3-524D-4647-9DAC-0D2E01C55D61.jpeg


Anstey College

When I was about 8 or 9 I had to attend Anstey College for excercises on my feet I had to write my name by holding chalk between my toes and do all sorts of movements with my feet in the hopes that my feet would straighten and grow. I can still hear my name being called out that it was the...
birminghamhistory.co.uk
 
On the 17th September 1909 Prime Minister Asquith spoke at Bingley Hall. Nine suffragettes were arrested including Mary Leigh who was sentenced to four months imprisonment in Winson Green where she began a hunger strike.

The paper Votes for Women of the 15 of October 1909 publishes her statement to her solicitor describing the treatment she received in the prison…


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A detailed account of PM Asquith’s meeting in Bingley Hall on the 17th September 1909 and the action by the Suffragettes.


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William Ball (1862- ? ) and Family

William Ball was a working class man born in 1862 at Coton near Tamworth. His father was an agricultural labourer. He was jailed at Pentonville in 1911 for his support of women's suffrage by breaking windows at the Home Office in London. He was force-fed to such an extent that his health deteriorated and he was sent to a lunatic asylum.

You can consult the Wikipedia article on William Ball for details, but there is more to add to his story and that of his family’s involvement in the Suffrage movement and an excellent write up link below.

On the 1891 marriage certificate William had come to Birmingham and was living at 18 Ladywell Walk, and in the 1901 Census at Wrottesley Street (next to Ladywell Walk) and referred to as a Salesman and his wife Jennie Ball as a Tailoress.

www.uncoveryourancestors.org

Gennie William and Ethel Ball

This blog’s research has revealed another family; the Ball family. Working class, fallen on hard times with a drive to obtain equality for sons and daughters. This is my fifteenth blog and although...
www.uncoveryourancestors.org
 
Some info from Women's suffrage memorabilia : an illustrated historical study (2003) concerning Birmingham connection.

“(Buttons)… Another, in enameled relief, showed an angel trumpeter with a "Freedom" banner above her and the "Votes for Women" logo beneath. This particular image was used also for a tea set, a pendant made by the Birmingham firm of Joseph Fray.”

“An ad for arts and crafts as opposed to commercially made jewelry also appeared in Votes for Women from Annie Steen of Birmingham at about the same time promoting "Christmas Presents for Suffragettes! Hand Wrought Jewelry in Gold and Silver Set With Stones in the Colours." Unfor-tunately, there were no illustrations to this ad, and no examples of Steen's work have been specifically identified, although reports indicate that some of her pieces were donated to the Birmingham stall at the exhibition at the Prince's Skating Rink. Birmingham was one of the country's centers for inexpensive silver work and jewelry.”

Joseph Fay was established c1870 and at 36 Albion Street, and later moved to Warley.

Sarah Ann Steen Yardley (1864-1955) is described in the Birmingham Daily Post of December 1915. “In point of workmanship Miss Annie Steen takes the lead and her necklet with 5 opals shows a mastery of material which is quite remarkable.”
 
Vivienne14 said:
Think these items of Nellie's are in the exhibition. Viv.

View attachment 103328View attachment 103329View attachment 103330View attachment 103331
Click to expand...

Nellie Hall worked for Birmingham WSPU 1911-13. Threw brick through window of PM Asquith's car in July 1913, and sentenced to 3 weeks in prison where she began a hunger strike. During the Great War she joined the Post office in Birmingham, becoming the first mail sorter for the British Expeditionary Force.

 
Elizabeth Crawford's blog Woman and Her Sphere says that Edgbaston Assembly Rooms were used by the Women's Social and Political Union for suffrage meetings:
'By the end of October 1908 Gladice Keevil had opened a WSPU office in Birmingham at 14 Ethel Street, which was to act as the headquarters for the Midlands. Evening At Homes were held there at 7.30 on Tuesdays, presumably attracting women who were working during the day, while afternoon

Edgbaston Assembly Rooms
Edgbaston Assembly Rooms
meetings were held for the leisured at the Edgbaston Assembly Rooms. Working closely with Gladice Keevil at this time was Bertha Ryland, the daughter of Mrs Alice Ryland, of 19 Hermitage Road...'
 
Thanks Stokkie. The building would have played an important part in meetings and discussions about the Suffragette movement then. I expect the authorities kept a close eye on it.

Gladice went on to be arrested along with Emmeline Pankhurst. Bertha slashed a painting in protest at Bham gallery - a plaque (see below) is placed in the Round Room at the gallery. An article about Bertha is here:

www.bbc.co.uk

Blue plaque for Birmingham 'painting attack' suffragette

Bertha Ryland caused Birmingham's art gallery to be closed for six weeks following the 1914 attack.
www.bbc.co.uk

Viv.
 

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