01 - EXHIBITION SIGNAGE
Shield shaped appliquéd sign framed with red silk. The main body being green oak leaf and acorn patterned fabric with the words “Unfurling Portsmouth’s suffrage banners” In the top corners are white acorns, and at the bottom are two oak leaves with an acorn with 2025 embroidered inside. The oak leaves and acorn being the symbol of the Portsmouth NUWSS. The oak frame is a repurposed fire screen.
Created by: SH 8/2024
02 - PORTSMOUTH N.U.W.S REPEATS NELSON’S SIGNAL
Replica. Shield-shaped light blue/green cotton banner. Each of the top corners have an anchor appliquéd in grey and brown cotton. In the centre there is a circle of hand stitched cotton signal flags which when decoded read Nelson’s last signal “England expects that every man will do his duty” A large rope circle frames the flags and continues down through to the lower half of the banner ending in a smaller circle.
Inside the circle of flags, there are four rows of hand appliquéd black cotton letters stating PORTSMOUTH N.U.W.S REPEATS NELSON’S SIGNAL. The word Portsmouth is in an upward arc and the bottom row is set in a downward arc. The lower half of the banner depicts a wreath of appliqué and embroidered oak leaves and acorns, their branches stitched in waxed brown cotton that finishes in a diamond shape. In the centre of the wreath is another of Nelson’s signals on a small flag pole using two flags that represent “Engage the enemy more closely”
The banner is interfaced with cream calico and backed with the matching blue/green cotton fabric. It has 6 tabs along the top with tassels on each side made from the same cotton. At the lowest point of the banner, there is a matching tassel. The banner is displayed with wooden poles with 3D printed brass coloured finials.
The first mention of the banner is from The Evening News on 15th June 1908 “Proudest of the proud” were the Portsmouth suffragists in London on Saturday, for was not the Portsmouth banner with Nelson’s famous signal “Engage the enemy more closely, the first to be Unfurled. We felt very proud” said Miss O’Shea, who with Mrs W C Hawksley, was included in the five Portsmouth representatives of the Suffrage Union in the procession...
Good old Pompey,” “Well done, Portsmouth.” Such were the exclamations heard on all sides, and one Marine even saluted the banner. “One sailor even wanted to carry the banner,” said Miss O’Shea, “but we would not let him, for it was a ladies’ day, and a glorious day, too.”
Created by: SH 2024-1
03 - NUWSS - 4103 - MEN OF PORTSMOUTH PETITION FOR WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE
Replica. Rectangular (portrait) shaped red twill cotton banner with shallow V tapering to the lower 1/8th fringed with gold braid. There are six rows of serif-style letters applied using white oil paint that says “NUWSS - 4103 - MEN OF - PORTSMOUTH - PETITION FOR - WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE” The number 4103 is the largest scale followed by Portsmouth, The P being 1/3 larger in scale than the rest of the word. The last row is set on an arc. The banner is interfaced with cream calico, backed with matching red twill cotton fabric and there is a channel at the top for a pole. The banner is displayed on dark wooden poles with acorn finials.
In January 1908 the NUWSS set up a petition to prove that men were in support of votes for women. Due to the bad weather only a third of constituencies were able to collect the signatures, however this was still 253 constituencies and 288,000 men had signed. The banners likely referenced this information. The banners can be seen on the BFI footage of the Votes for Women protest on Trafalgar Square in the summer of 1910,
Created by: SH 2/2024
04 - N.U.W.S.S - NON - MILITANT - PORTSMOUTH ROAD
Replica. Rectangular (landscape) shaped white twill cotton banner. The words N.U.W.S.S - NON - MILITANT - PORTSMOUTH ROAD are in three rows of dark blue serif style type. It is backed with the same white fabric and has a channel along the top to accommodate a pole. The first evidence of this banner is the photograph shown above from 1913.
It was important for the Suffragists to declare that they were non-militant to set them apart from the WSPU Suffragettes.
Created by: SH 12/2024
05 - WOMEN’S LABOUR LEAGUE PORTSMOUTH BRANCH
Replica. Rectangular (landscape) shaped cream banner with thick deep red cotton twill border. Along the top are thirteen cream tabs with the outer ones in red. There are two rows of hand appliquéd red cotton san-serif style letters saying “WOMEN’S LABOUR LEAGUE - PORTSMOUTH BRANCH” Each word had a small diamond shape separating them. The word “Branch” is set in italics. The banner is backed in cream fabric and machine-stitched. It is displayed on a wooden spinnaker pole with steel clips at each end.
The Women’s Labour League was set up in 1906 as a pressure group to fight for women’s representation and suffrage. It was disbanded in 1918 after The Representation of the People’s Act and replaced by the Women’s Section.
Created by: SH 3/2024
06 - PORTSMOUTH LABOUR PARTY WOMEN’S SECTION - SOUTHERN DIVISION
Original rectangular (Portrait) fabric banner. The background is in 3 vertical sections with the centre being the largest and containing a white almond shaped panel with hand painted words PORTSMOUTH LABOUR set on an upward curve with the word PARTY under, then over 2 rows Southern Division, Women’s section. Under this is a shield in yellow and blue quarters. The words AGITATE, EDUCATE, ORGANISE are set over 3 lines.
Each side panel is yellow with rose, thistle and shamrock appliquéd motifs. The banner has a piped red border and tassels with loops along the top to accommodate a pole.
The date of the banner is unknown but the Labour Women’s Section was set up in 1918. It seems Portsmouth initially had a single division but in 1930 split into Northern and Southern.
Ref: Kindly loaned by Leone Hill
07 - WOMEN’S LABOUR LEAGUE MEETING
Reproduction postcard with photograph showing people at a meeting table. There is an insert with a photo of a woman standing and speaking. The caption reads “Women’s Labour League in conference Portsmouth 26th Jan ‘09” and “Reading the reports” Photo SILK
08 - WOMEN’S LABOUR LEAGUE CONFERENCE
Reproduction postcard with photograph showing a group of women standing outside a building (probably the Town Hall) The caption reads “Women’s Labour League in conference Portsmouth 26th Jan ‘09” Photo SILK on the back is written “3rd from left front Margaret Bondfield”
Ref: Women’s Library LSE
09 - WOMEN’S LABOUR LEAGUE COMMITTEE
Tracey, Herbert (1925) The Book Of The Labour Party: Its History, Growth Policy and Leaders. Volume 2 p.257
“The Women’s Labour League. The committee at the Portsmouth Conference”
10 - UMBRELLA
Replica of an umbrella seen at Hyde Park at the end of the Pilgrims March in 1913 carried by the Women’s Tax Resistance League. Light coloured umbrella with dark edges and the words - NO VOTE NO TAX written in four of the segments.
Created by: SH 1/2025
11 - FLAGS
Replicas. Triangular shaped twill cotton pennant flags with quarter segments in Green, White and Red. Along the side is a channel to accommodate a cane.
Created by: SH 5/2024
12 - INTERACTIVE SCREEN
Interactive screen with an animated story illustrating the Pilgrims suffrage march to London of 1913. The animation uses Harriet Blessley’s diary as the majority of the script, but also newspaper reports of the time were used to reconstruct the speeches she mentions.
The visuals are developed from original photographs of the march but also illustrate the route by incorporating topographical images from the golden age of postcards (1902-1914). Many thanks to Bygone Portsmouth and Kim Lang for allowing the use of particularly rare cards that are difficult to source. Also the film clip is courtesy of the BFI National Archive.
This is an ongoing project and the exhibition and animation will be continuing for the entire route, next stop will be Petersfield.
Made using: Adobe Animate, Photoshop, Illustrator and Audition.
Narrator: Kassi Chalk
Created by: Sarah Houghton 2024-5
13 - PORTSMOUTH KNAPSACK
Replica. Rectangular-shaped cream bag with flap closure. The flap has a red cotton arc-shaped panel with the word Portsmouth appliquéd in black cotton. The strap is made up of 3 ribbons in the NUWSS colours of red, white and green and is backed in cream calico.
Created by: SH 4/2024
14 - HARRIET BLESSLEY’S DIARY
Original. Seven sheets of lined writing paper with a handwritten account of the suffrage march to London dated between 17th- 27th July 1913
Ref: Portsmouth History Centre,
15 - NELSON’S FAMOUS SIGNAL
Original frontispiece illustration “England Expects that every man will do his Duty” An illustration of Nelson’s signal in flags surrounding the stern of HMS Victory.
Designed in colour by T.H. Robinson. From the book by Laughton, John Knox (1896) Nelson Memorial - Nelson & His Companions in Arms. George Allen, London
.
16 - DEFIANCE SEWING MACHINE
Original hand cranked lockstitch sewing machine. The machine was distributed by W.J.Harris & Co Ltd, London, SE but manufactured in the USA by the New Home Sewing Mach. Co. Orange Mass.
Serial number 2754386 dates it to 1907.
These machines were named for and marketed at the suffragist, as seen in the advertisement in “Votes for Women” 31st December 1908.
17 - BANNERS AND BANNER MAKING
Reproduction of “Banners and Banner-making by Mary Lowndes” A seven page booklet with advice on how to design banners published in 1909 by The Artist’s Suffrage League
Ref: LSE Women’s Library
18 - TO LONDON BY ROAD
Original postcard with photographic image of Mile End Road, Portsmouth, 17th July 1913
To London by Road - S. Cribb hand written in white. Showing the NUWSS Pilgrims march to London passing Charles Dickens’ birthplace.
Ref: Portsmouth History Centre
19 - PETERSFIELD SUFFRAGISTS
Original postcard with photographic image of the High Street, Petersfield, 18th July 1913 by E. & E. Pickering, Petersfield, showing the NUWSS arriving in Petersfield on Day 2 of their march to London.
Ref: Portsmouth History Centre
20 - TOWN HALL SQUARE
Original photographic image of the Town Hall Square Portsmouth, 17th July 1913 by G.West & Sons, Southsea (72 and 84 Palmerston Road) showing the start of the NUWSS Pilgrims march to London.
Ref: Portsmouth History Centre
21 - HYDE PARK
Reproduction photographic image of the end of the Pilgrims march showing Millicent Fawcett addressing the crowd on 27th July 1913.
Also a 2025 coloured version by Sarah Houghton
Ref: LSE Women’s Library
22 - WSPU CERTIFICATE
An illuminated certificate. The outside is decorated with stylised green vine leaves, purple flowers and fruit. There is a Portcullis framed by woven thorns and Broad Arrow surrounded by an olive wreath. There is a circular panel illustration featuring three Angels of Freedom. Two of these angels are heralds, while the one in the middle holds a ribbon that displays the word “FREEDOM”.
The centre of the certificate, handwritten, reads;
To Margaret Haly.
On behalf of all women who will win freedom by the bondage which you have endured for their sake, and dignity by the humiliation which you have gladly suffered for the uplifting of our sex, We the Members of the Women’s Social and Political Union, herewith express our deep sense of admiration for your courage in enduring a long periods of privation and solitary confinement in prison for the Votes for Women Cause, also our thanks to you for the great service that you have thereby rendered to the Women’s Movement.
Inspired by your passion for freedom and right may we and the women who come after us be ever ready to follow your example of self-forgetfulness and self-conquest, ever ready to obey the call of duty and to answer to the appeal of the oppressed.
Signed on behalf of the Women’s
Social and Political Union
E. Pankhurst and E. Pethink-Lawrence
The certificate was presented by the WSPU with the Holloway Brooch in recognition of those women who were imprisoned for the cause.
Ref: Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery
23 - WSPU HOLLOWAY BROOCH
A silver brooch with the main body in the shape of a portcullis, symbol for the House of Commons, over which is a broad arrow the symbol of state property and mimicking the arrows on prison clothing. The arrow is filled with enamel in purple, white and green. On each side hang convict chains in silver. It was designed by Sylvia Pankhurst and produced by Toye & Co. London which is stamped on the reverse.
The brooch was presented by the WSPU with an Illuminated Certificate in recognition of those women who were imprisoned for the cause.
Ref: Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery
24 - WSPU HUNGER STRIKE MEDAL
The bar of the ribbon is inscribed
“Fed by Force 1/3/12”
On its box is printed:
“Presented to Margaret Haly by the Women’s Social and Political Union in recognition of a gallant action whereby through endurance and hardship, a great principle of political justice was vindicated”.
It was designed by Sylvia Pankhurst and produced by Toye & Co. London which is stamped on the reverse.
The medal was presented by the WSPU in recognition of those women who were imprisoned and went on hunger strike for the cause.
Ref: Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery
25 - MARGARET HALY
Reproduction of a newspaper photograph from the Birmingham Daily Mail on 10th April 1913 with the caption “Mrs Bradbury and Miss Haly at New Street” Ref: British Newspaper Archives
26 - NORAH AND MARGARET O’SHEA
Reproduction of a newspaper photograph from the Hampshire Post and Portsmouth Standard on 4th October 1913 with the caption “The Suffragettes march to Southampton Misses O’Shea heading the procession. Our photograph shows a police-sargeant ordering the photographer away”.
Ref: British Newspaper Archives
27 - MISSES O’SHEA AT DRAYTON
Reproduction of a newspaper photograph from the Hampshire Post and Portsmouth Standard on 4th October 1913 with the caption “Suffragettes’ march to Southampton. Photograph of the start, which was made at the Misses O’Shea’s house at Drayton”.
Ref: British Newspaper Archives
28 - O’SHEA’S GARDEN
Reproduction postcard believed to be the O’Shea sister’s garden in Cosham. Postally used from Cosham to Miss L M Slamer of 107 Queen’s Road, Gosport (moved to 10 Baffins Road, Copnor) from N. O’Shea. Showing a group of women and children, some in fancy dress posing with the Portsmouth Nelson’s signal banner.
Ref: By kind permission of Stephen Pomeroy
29 - MILLICENT FAWCETT
Reproduction photograph removed from Cassell’s Universal Portrait Gallery, 1895, showing Mrs. Millicent Garrett Fawcett with facsimile signature.
30 - WOMEN’S LENDING LIBRARY
These books are from the Portsmouth Women’s Suffrage Society’s lending library that was based at 2 Kent Road, Southsea from 1908-1914 Ref: Portsmouth History Centre
1) Addams, Jane. (1907). A new conscience and an ancient evil. On the first page is written “When this book has been read please return to N. O’Shea, The Cottage, Cosham”
2) Addams, Jane. (1907). The Spirit of Youth and the City Streets.
3) Black, Clementina (1907) Sweated Industry and the minimum wage. Book plate on front cover “Women’s Suffrage Society, Portsmouth Branch 36 Stanley Street, Southsea. No. 22. Lent for 14 days. On the first page is written “N. O’Shea”
4) Blackburn, Helen, (1902) Women’s Suffrage: A record of the Women’s suffrage movement in the British Isles. Book plate on front cover “Women’s Suffrage Society, Portsmouth Branch, 20 Highland Road, 2 Kent Road Southsea. To be lent 14 days
On the first page is written “Lent to the Portsmouth Suffrage Society N. O’Shea.
5) Davies, Emily (1909) Thoughts of some questions relating to women 1860-1908. Book plate on front cover “Women’s Suffrage Society, Portsmouth Branch. 20 Highland Road. No.4 Southsea. To be lent 14 days”
6) Higgs, Mary (1907) Glimpse into the Abyss. On the inside cover is written “O’Shea lent to the Library”
7) Kant, Immanuel (1917) Perpetual Peace
8) Lyon Blease, W. (1907) The Emancipation of English Women. On the first page is written “Lent to the Portsmouth Suffrage Society N. O’Shea.
9) Malvery, Olive (1906) The Soul Market. Book plate on front cover “Women’s Suffrage Society, Portsmouth Branch 20 Highland Road 2 Kent Road Southsea To be lent 14 days. On the first page is written “Please return this book to Miss N. O’Shea. The Cottage Cosham.
10) Pankhurst, E, Sylvia (1921) Soviet Russia as I saw it
11) Pankhurst, E, Sylvia (1922) Writ on a cold slate
12) Price, Morgan (1914) The diplomatic history of war. On the first page are written two inscriptions “N. O’Shea The Cottage, Cosham.” “U.D.C. Library Book Portsmouth Branch” , “This book is lent to the Portsmouth Labour Party’s Library by M & N O’Shea Date___ Portsmouth Printers Ltd
13) Seton-Watson, R.W. et al (1907) The war and democracy.
14) Schreiner, Olive (1907) Women and Labour. On the first page is written “N. O’Shea”
15) Stopes, Charlotte (1907) British Freewoman. Book plate on front cover “Women’s Suffrage Society, Portsmouth Branch 36 Stanley Street, Southsea. No. 21. Lent for 14 days. On the first page is written “N. O’Shea lent to the Library”
16) Troward, Thomas (1907) The Edinburgh Lectures on Mental Science. On the first page is written “N. O’Shea from Feb/ 32
17) Wallis Chapman, AB and M, (1907) The Status of Women 1066 - 1909.
31 - PRINTS
Gladstone, W.E (c1910) “You have made of your prisons a temple of honour” Printed drawing of the inside of a prison cell
Ref: Portsmouth History Centre
32 - 1911 CENSUS PROTEST
Reproduction of the 1911 census boycott. The O’Shea sisters from Cosham completed the form but added “We have filled in this paper under protest because Women cannot vote for Members of Parliament.”
Ref: National Archives
33 - 1911 CENSUS DECLARATION
Reproduction of the 1911 census boycott. Alice Jones was living with her father at 170 Bath Road, Southsea. Her occupation was listed as “Suffragist” which is notably written in a different ink and handwriting to the rest of the form which had likely been filled in by the “Head of the Family” her Father, with Alice adding her objections after.
Ref: National Archives
34 - 1911 CENSUS BOYCOTT
Reproduction of the census boycott . On the night of the census Charlotte Marsh made herself absent, with the enumerator noting on the form - “This person spent the night at St. James’ Hall, Landport and returned to 4 Pelham Road the next day (absolutely refused to fill up paper)” Ref: National Archives
35 - CHARLOTTE MARSH
Original postcard with photographic portrait of Charlotte Marsh, organiser, National Women’s Social and Political Union, with the organisation’s address. 4 Clements Inn. W.3. c1909
36 - KATHERINE DOUGLAS SMITH
Reproduction of a photograph showing Katherine Douglas Smith speaking to a crowd of men, Nov 1910
A woman speaking from a platform to a densely packed crowd of men; inscriptions on reverse ‘The Suffragettes busy at [Portsmouth]. Miss Douglas Smith make ..?? ‘From Stephen Cribb, Southsea
Ref: LSE Women’s Library
37 - PORTSMOUTH ELECTION SCENES 20
Reproduction of a postcard by SILK with the words PORTSMOUTH ELECTION SCENES - SILK 20 showing two women speaking to a large crowd from a platform.
Ref: LSE Women’s Library
38 - PORTSMOUTH MASS CROWD
Reproduction of a postcard with the words “Flashlight photograph showing part of the mass crowd of 80,000 people in the Town Hall Square at the declaration of the poll Portsmouth 7th Dec 1910 Photo by Reginald Silk.”
39 - PORTSMOUTH ELECTION SCENES 10
Reproduction of a photograph by SILK 10 likely of the WSPU organising office at 191 Commercial Road, Portsmouth. It shows a smiling woman inside looking busy with 2 posters on the windows “Torturing Women in Prison. Vote against the government” and “Votes for Women” written on the window. A crowd of 22 people, mostly men are gathered outside.
Ref: LSE Women’s Library
40 - WOMEN GET THE VOTE
Original book page showing a photographic image of a woman holding a baby placing her vote into a ballot box with a young child next to her, observed by 6 adjudicators. Photo by Topical. Captioned “In the general election on December 14, 1918, women for the first time exercised the vote for which they had fought for years. In this election, which returned a coalition Government, women over thirty were on the register” Page 197 from The Story of 25 Eventful Years in Pictures - History 1910 - 1935.
41 - WOMEN VOTERS
Original front cover of The Sphere. 21st December 1918. Illustration by F Matania of a woman with fur hand warmer placing her vote into a ballot box. Observed by 2 policemen and an adjudicator there are two women in the queue behind her. Captioned “Women voters recording their votes for the first time at the general election of 1918” “For the first time in this country, women on December 14, exercised the franchise in a parliamentary election, and they did so with so much zeal that in some places they considerably outnumbered the male voters at the polls. Some were ignorant of the necessary procedure, but the majority had been so well coached by the press that they were well prepared. The artist shows the novel scene at a polling booth where women voters are depositing their ballot papers in the box.”
42 - HOW WOMEN WON THE VOTE
Gates, William G (1919) Portsmouth and the Great War. Page 67 showing “How the women won the vote”
43 - TELEGRAM
Original Post Office Telegraph to Portsmouth on 5th Feb 1908 “A.W.White Esq on platform Town Hall Portsmouth. Mr Lapthorn President Portsmouth Liberal Association, will reply fully to your speech tonight in Friday’s Hampshire Post.”
44 - POLITICAL ECONOMY
Fawcett, Millicent Garrett (1904) Political Economy for Beginners. Ninth Edition.
45 - PUNCH CARTOON 1905
Original page from Punch political cartoon on 10th May 1905 with an illustration by Bernard Partridge, of a man outside a polling station speaking to a women. The caption reads THE DIGNITY OF THE FRANCHISE. Qualified Voice “Ah you may pay rates an’ taxes, an’ you may ‘ave responsibilities an’ all; but when it comes to votin’, you must leave it to us men!”
46 - PUNCH CARTOON 1909
Original page from Punch political cartoon 8th December 1909 with an illustration of a sailor dancing in front of a poster stating PORTSMOUTH ELECTION with a POSTPONED UNTIL JANUARY across it. The caption reads TWO MONTHS HARD. Charlie Beresford “all very well doing this sort of thing for a few days, but when it comes to weeks and weeks ---”
49 - PUNCH CARTOON 1908
Original page from Punch political cartoon 21st October 1908 by
Bernard Partridge with an illustration of 2 men passing a row of police. There is a poster saying, VOTES FOR WOMEN GREAT DEMONSTRATION TONIGHT IN PARLIAMENT SQUARE. The caption reads THE FULLY EMPLOYED; First Burglar (on his way to suburban night work),
“FINE BODY O’ MEN, BILL! NICE TO SEE 'EM GET A GOOD JOB LIKE THIS, INSTEAD O’ HANGIN’ ABOUT THE SUBURBS.”
Second Burglar, “YUS. I’M ALL FOR THESE 'ERE SUFFRAGITS, I AM.”
47 - BALLOT BOX - NELSON WARD
Metal box painted black with the word NELSON painted in white on the front. Paper labels saying, City Council Election IC and Pale Salmon Ballot Papers only.
Ref: Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery
Items without a reference are from the author's own collection.