17 10 286 https://map.mappingwomenssuffrage.org.uk/files/original/f79ea36159ef82fe8c1536a465bc9431.jpg 14368c0197547871707c8fbeb4021af7 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Mapdata ©2017Google streetview https://map.mappingwomenssuffrage.org.uk/files/original/33c8db71af0f05044fe94a7e0108675f.jpg b13f2a4958cf6c78b929a2ba42aa14d3 Person (Campaigner) A record of a person related to the Mapping Women's Suffrage project Age The age of this person at the time of the 1911 UK Census 66 Address The address of this person at the time of the 1911 UK Census 9 Lillington Avenue, Leamington, CV32 5UL Marital Status The marital status of this person at the time of the 1911 UK Census Widow Occupation Private means Suffrage Society The suffrage society this person was affiliated with at the time of the 1911 UK Census CUWFA Census This person's response to the 1911 UK Census Complies Biographical Text Mrs Drown held a number of CUWFA meetings at her home in 1911 one presided over by president of the CUWFA Lady Willougbhy de Broke. Researcher: Tara Morton. Research funded by Warwick University. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Helen Leighton Drown Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant POINT(-170397.15641566028 6854502.1632475145) CUWFA https://map.mappingwomenssuffrage.org.uk/files/original/c415c463ffe7e14830d1405d650ffe6b.jpg bb19e9a3f94fd08932a1d0811218482c Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Helen Watts, 1911. Source: www.bathintime.co.uk https://map.mappingwomenssuffrage.org.uk/files/original/feee189943ec2dab90dd6bcc412e7a00.jpg 8adf68baada24eb433ee4271dfd1b90a Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Helen Watts planting tree at at in the Orchard at the Blathwayts home in Bath. Source: www.bathintime.co.uk Person (Campaigner) A record of a person related to the Mapping Women's Suffrage project Occupation None given Age The age of this person at the time of the 1911 UK Census 29 Marital Status The marital status of this person at the time of the 1911 UK Census Single Address The address of this person at the time of the 1911 UK Census Lenton Vicarage, 35 Church Street, Nottingham Suffrage Society The suffrage society this person was affiliated with at the time of the 1911 UK Census WSPU Census This person's response to the 1911 UK Census Complies Biographical Text Helen Kirkpatrick Watts, was the daughter of the vicar of Lenton. She joined the Nottingham branch of the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) after hearing Christabel Pankhurst speak in Nottingham on 9th December 1907. She was arrested at the House of Commons on 24th February 1909 for causing 'wilful obstruction' and when she appeared at Bow Street magistrates court she refused to be bound over to keep the peace and instead went to Holloway Prison for one month. On release she received an enthusiastic reception at Morley's Cafe on Wheeler Gate on 24th March 1909. She was also arrested in July at Nottingham's Albert Hall, but was released without charge. She was again arrested for 'disorderly conduct' in September in Leicester in 1909 at a meeting being addressed by Winston Churchill and in Leicester gaol she went on hunger strike for which she was awarded a medal from the WSPU. On release she gave her first public address on September 17th, again at Morley's Café, speaking of her experiences to great effect. She always wrote home to the Vicarage during this time to keep in touch with her family. Helen wasn't arrested again and may have resigned from the WSPU to join the Women’s Freedom League, because she did not agree with the WSPU’s later arson campaign. In March 1911 Helen stayed at Eagle House Batheaston, the home of the Blathwayts which they opened to those suffragettes recovering from imprisonment. She planted a juniper tree in the Suffragette orchard there and was photographed on 17th March 1911. This clearly meant a lot to her as she revealed in an interview in 1962 that she had carried a sprig of that tree in her purse. A couple of weeks later in April Helen went to stay at her brother's house in Somerset where she was recorded complying with the 1911 census. By 1912 she was training at the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases in Bath and she nursed Belgian refugees there during WW1. She wrote a novel about this time ‘The Nevilles: a story for Girls’. After the war, Helen worked as a Civil Servant at the Ministry of Pensions though it may have been the War Office or the Ministry of Labour. She visited Canada perhaps to see her sister Ethel, but she returned to live in Somerset where she died aged 91 and is buried in St Vigor's churchyard at Stratton-on-the-Fosse. In the 1970s, a trunk containing various documents was found and the letters and speeches etc are in the Nottingham archives. The Nottingham Women’s History Group planted a tree and installed a commemorative plaque to Helen in the Arboretum in 2017. Researched and contributed by Nottingham Women's History group www.nottinghamwomenshistory.org.uk. Sources: Rowena Edlin-White 'Helen Kirkpatrick Watts: Suffragette' by Piecemeal Pamphlets: No Surrender Nottingham Women's History Group Nottingham Archives; www.bathintime.co.uk. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Helen Watts Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant ||||osm POINT(-130831.68647523507 6973479.733651238) WSPU https://map.mappingwomenssuffrage.org.uk/files/original/aaf87348c12031b0ca7ea93622a9ea4d.jpg bb19e9a3f94fd08932a1d0811218482c Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Helen Watts circa 1911. Source: Col Linley Blathwayt collection (www.bathintime.co.uk). https://map.mappingwomenssuffrage.org.uk/files/original/a1ac7ac090069841a1eff48e2f572b7a.jpg e4c464b68c6bcb4a335c2021f63b0d4c Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Helen in prison uniform: Source & copyright: family album courtesy of The Watts family. https://map.mappingwomenssuffrage.org.uk/files/original/3ac98ea99fb9788e2494c33a309b3580.jpg c2657ac38a32f8c418a2f29df8081a15 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Source: Nottinghamshire Archives DD993/4 https://map.mappingwomenssuffrage.org.uk/files/original/af84dfe579fab3bed800ca4f98aa2534.jpg 8adf68baada24eb433ee4271dfd1b90a Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Helen planting a tree at Eagle House, suffragette refuge. Source: Col Linley Blathwayt collection (www.bathintime.co.uk). https://map.mappingwomenssuffrage.org.uk/files/original/d1c398e2ddcda872c895f2a4b9e0b4a6.jpg 0dcb8fefb2868358daee6eeb6ab25aeb Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Source: courtesy The National Archives. Person (Campaigner) A record of a person related to the Mapping Women's Suffrage project Occupation None given Age The age of this person at the time of the 1911 UK Census 29 Marital Status The marital status of this person at the time of the 1911 UK Census Single Address The address of this person at the time of the 1911 UK Census Chilcompton, Somerset Suffrage Society The suffrage society this person was affiliated with at the time of the 1911 UK Census WSPU Census This person's response to the 1911 UK Census Complies Biographical Text Helen was born in Co Durham the eldest child of Rev Alan Hunter Watts who became the Vicar of Holy Trinity Church, Lenton in 1893. The family lived at Lenton Vicarage now Unity House, 35 Church Street. She had seven younger siblings and was particularly close to her brother Nevile with whom she published 'Poems by a Brother and Sister' in 1906. As a girl Helen contributed to The Girl's Realm magazine an enlightened periodical supporting women's education and entry into the professions although where Helen herself was educated it unclear. Her parents were known supporters of the East Midlands Federation of the NUWSS and some suffrage meetings were held in the church hall. Helen seems to have attended various suffrage meetings before joining the city branch of the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) in 1907 after hearing Christabel Pankhurst speak at a volatile meeting in Nottingham mechanics on 2nd December that year. The speakers there were unable to make themselves heard and so a follow-up meeting was held a week later, on the 9th of December and after this Helen joined the WSPU. On the 24th of February 1909, she joined a protest in London and was arrested for willful obstruction. At her appearance at Bow Street Police Court, she refused to be bound over and was sentenced to one month in jail. She wrote to her parents to tell them about her arrest and arranged that her sisters, Alice and Ethel, would receive weekly copies of the WSPU’s 'Votes for Women' newspaper. On release, she was greeted at Nottingham station by many local suffragettes and a celebration supper was held at Morley's cafe on Wheeler Gate. On the 27th of July 1909, the WSPU attempted to disrupt a meeting at the Albert Hall in Nottingham and were ejected; so held a separate meeting in the Market Place where Helen and several others were arrested but released without charge. On the 4th of September along with Mary Rawson and (see) Nelly Crocker - the local WSPU paid organiser- she attended a meeting in Leicester where Winston Churchill was speaking. This time Helen was charged with 'disorderly conduct' and in Leicester jail went on hunger strike for 90 hours. During that time, she was threatened with force feeding, but this did not happen. She did however, smash two windowpanes in her cell to let in the fresh air. Helen was released after 5 days and spoke about her experiences at Morley's cafe on the 17th of September, remarking, ‘Votes for Women’ will not be won by drawing-room chatter’. She was awarded the Holloway prison medal and the Hunger strike medal and was much in demand as a speaker; there are notes of several of her speeches in the Nottingham archives. Helen was arrested again but does not appear to have been involved with militancy after 1910. By March 1911 was at Eagle House, Batheaston where the (see) Blathwayt family welcomed recovering suffragettes. On the 17th of March she planted a juniper tree in the Suffragettes wood there (see image). By the 2nd of April 1911 - census night - she was boarding at the home of her brother Nevile in Chilcompton, Somerset, where she complied with the census. We are not certain where the house was in Chilcompton, so have temporarily placed it at a generic location in the town. If anyone local can discern the name of the house from the census record and identify its precise location, please contact the Mapping Women's Suffrage project. By 1912, Helen was training as a nurse at the Royal National Hospital in Bath and working with the Women’s Freedom League by 1914. Later, she worked as a Civil servant in the Ministry of Pensions. After her retirement she lived in Hassocks in Sussex where she was involved with the Unitarian church. On the 18th of May 1962, she gave an interview in Bath where she had come to see the remains of the Suffragette’s Wood. She said that she had carried a sprig of the juniper tree she planted there in her purse since. In October 1965, she went to Canada to visit her sister Ethel, but ill health forced her to return to Somerset where she died aged 91. She is buried in St Vigor's churchyard at Stratton-on-the-Fosse. In the 1970s, an unaccompanied trunk arrived from Canada at Bristol Docks and remained unclaimed there for several years. Eventually, a dock worker opened it and it was found to contain Helen's letters and suffragette memorabilia. Fortunately, this was shown to a local teacher who made copies and sent these to Nottinghamshire archives - without which we would know a great deal less. The Nottingham Women’s History Group planted a Juniper tree in 2017 and in 2019 installed a commemorative plaque to Helen in the Arboretum. Sources: Helen Kirkpatrick watts Suffragette a Piecemeal Pamphlet by Rowena Edlin White Feb 2016 No Surrender: Women's Suffrage in Nottinghamshire NWHG; Elizabeth Crawford, The Women's Suffrage Movement: A Reference Guide (London, 1999). Contributed by Nottingham Women's History group www.nottinghamwomenshistory.org.uk. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Helen Watts Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant ||||osm POINT(-278791.20437164535 6667434.494858074) WSPU https://map.mappingwomenssuffrage.org.uk/files/original/97dec7281d5d9dfca154788ba3f0188d.tif ae4f6e66a7a9e9bce519098055565ec4 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Helena Dowson, circa 1926. Source: image courtesy of University of Nottingham Manuscripts and Special Collections UMP/4/1 https://map.mappingwomenssuffrage.org.uk/files/original/b2dabd987463365dfdb5ae4f9a0420a3.jpg 4c4330c0c6f12923268ded48a9a9b3be Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Source: courtesy The National Archives https://map.mappingwomenssuffrage.org.uk/files/original/2c5688b9c7c2b1c390d79e62f9050f48.jpg 355af8ff140f922718529781a0e6c47c Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource East side of Helena's home 'Felixstowe' before demolition. Source: Photo taken by Philip Potter, son of Helena's housekeeper. https://map.mappingwomenssuffrage.org.uk/files/original/0ddcfe1db1ee4cfa25e884dabb3b3b85.jpg b28349257992a1d3e202262d917a6b20 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Citation made to Helena 'Nellie' Dowson. Source: Dame Alix Meynall's book 'Public Servant, Private Woman' (1988 Victor Gollancz). Person (Campaigner) A record of a person related to the Mapping Women's Suffrage project Occupation Secretary Women's Suffrage Society Age The age of this person at the time of the 1911 UK Census 44 Marital Status The marital status of this person at the time of the 1911 UK Census Married Address The address of this person at the time of the 1911 UK Census 'Felixstowe' , Clumber Road West, The Park, Nottingham Suffrage Society The suffrage society this person was affiliated with at the time of the 1911 UK Census NUWSS Census This person's response to the 1911 UK Census Complies Biographical Text Helena, or Nellie as she preferred to be known, was born at Chestnut House on Chestnut Grove, the only daughter of Alderman Anderson and Jane Brownsword, both active in charity and social works. She married Will Dowson in 1894, first son of Benjamin and Alice Dowson and from 1906 lived in Felixstowe in the Park (previously they had lived at 10 Mapperley Road). The couple also had a bungalow on the Trent. Helena worked with her mother and sisters in law on various issues including women’s suffrage. She took over the lead secretary role from her mother in 1895, affiliating to the National NUWSS and attending the executive meetings in London. She attended and organised demonstrations and meetings, held garden parties and stalls to fundraise, went on marches and events including some organised by the East Midlands Federation of NUWSS as well as some WSPU events. Helena also worked in Nottingham’s suffrage shop in Regent’s Chambers at 54 Long Row - now gone. In 1911, Helena was at home and complied with the April 2nd Census recording her occupation as secretary of the local women’s suffrage society. In 1913, she and Maud - her sister-in-law - joined the Great Suffrage Pilgrimage held by the NUWSS as it passed through Nottingham, on route to London. Nellie picked up Millicent Fawcett and took her to speak at Chesterfield and Southwell; the only region in the shire where Mrs Fawcett spoke. They returned home after the East Midlands events and re-joined the final Hyde Park pilgrimage event on 26th July. Once the vote was won, Helena’s work was commended with an illuminated address by fellow suffragists in Nottingham as follows: “NOTTINGHAM SUFFRAGE LEADER HONOURED. To mark their appreciation of her services to the cause, the object of which has now been secured, friends of the women's suffrage movement in the city and county yesterday [18th July 1918] presented Mrs. W. E. Dowson, of Nottingham, with two large volumes of Japanese painters, with an illuminated address suitably inscribed, and a bronze statuette entitled “Sorrow." The ceremony took place at the residence of Mrs. W. R. Hamilton, Eastdene Alexandra Park, Nottingham, and was witnessed by a considerable gathering” (Nottingham Evening Post, 19 July 1918). During WW1, Helena organised various fundraising and support for women; she was the Honorary Secretary of Queen’s Work for Women; a member of the Anti-Profiteering committee; and set up two Baby Welcomes and a day nursery at the request of the Ministry of Health. She became the first woman JP in 1920 after the Sex Disqualification Removal Act and inaugurated the women’s police court work – being Chair and secretary. Helena also stood unsuccessfully as a Liberal candidate in 1919 and then became the first woman Liberal Councillor in 1920-24 representing the Meadows Ward. She campaigned to improve housing and sanitation and to extend the vote to women over 21 (on an equal footing to men) and for their access to representation on civic bodies. The NUWSS became the National Union of Societies for Equal Citizenship (NUSEC) in 1919 and in 1924 it became the Nottingham Women’s Service Association later becoming the Townswomen’s Guilds. Helena remained a member. She was also related by marriage to Eleanor Rathbone, who started the first Guilds. She maintained her house in The Park throughout her life, but from 1961 bought Northfield, a house in Newby Bridge, Ulverston now in Cumbria in the Lake District on the edge of Lake Windermere. It is here that she died at the age of 98. Her former home Felixstowe was demolished after her death in the 1960’s. A plaque celebrating her role as the first Liberal woman Councillor was unveiled on 8 March 2020 on the Council House and on 20 July 2020 on the Justice Centre in commemoration of her as one of the first JP’s. In 2021, a blue plaque will be mounted at the Justice Centre to celebrate all of Helena’s incredible achievements. Sources: Miriam Jackson, 'A Tribute to Life: Helena Brownsword Dowson 1866-1964' in No Surrender: Women's Suffrage in Nottinghamshire, NWHG; Elizabeth Crawford, The Women's Suffrage Movement: A Reference Guide, 1866-1928 (London, 1999). Contributed by Nottingham Women's History group www.nottinghamwomenshistory.org.uk. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Helena Brownsword Dowson Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant ||||osm POINT(-129799.4168028151 6973897.073154525) NUWSS https://map.mappingwomenssuffrage.org.uk/files/original/fdb037ab72ce054163e77982d5b12ed3.jpg 710e1ca8c8b41fd964830cbca97f0e4c https://map.mappingwomenssuffrage.org.uk/files/original/f2f8fae303da5ecaa8ea3047badd39a4.jpg dc00a78e39d283d96b8b95d797ae85c9 Person (Campaigner) A record of a person related to the Mapping Women's Suffrage project Age The age of this person at the time of the 1911 UK Census 41 Address The address of this person at the time of the 1911 UK Census 3 Rhodesia Avenue, Halifax, West Riding HX3 OPB Marital Status The marital status of this person at the time of the 1911 UK Census Single Occupation Medical Doctor Suffrage Society The suffrage society this person was affiliated with at the time of the 1911 UK Census WSPU Census This person's response to the 1911 UK Census Evades Biographical Text Born in 1870, Helena Jones grew up in north Wales and became an early Fabian. One of the pioneer generation of impressive women doctors, she studied at the Royal Free in London, qualifying in 1901. A suffragette, she spoke at the great 1908 WSPU rally in Hyde Park ~ and soon impressed Emmeline Pankhurst.  Circa 1909 Dr Helena Jones was appointed the first schools’ Medical Officer for the West Riding, and moved up to live in Halifax. Despite her demanding job, she became the WSPU organizer for Halifax, linking the Pankhursts’ headquarters in London (undoubtedly by telephone) with local suffragettes - like Mary Taylor who lived just a short walk away. Helena Jones was the organizing genius behind Emmeline Pankhurst’s census boycott meeting in Halifax on Thursday 30 March 1911. It was  held in the town-centre Mechanics’ Institute Hall and Dr Jones took the chair at this crowded meeting. Three days later, on census night itself, Helena Jones was a very resolute evader: the enumerator wrote a statement to this effect on her schedule, which was signed by her domestic servant, the only occupant of the house. In World War I, Dr Jones worked in Corsica with the Fabian Relief Fund. She then returned to Wales, working as assistant Medical Officer of Health in the Rhondda, in charge of the maternity and child welfare clinic. She died in September 1946. For more see, Ryland Wallace, The Women’s Suffrage Movement in Wales 1866-1928 (University of Wales Press, 2009). Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Helena Jones (Dr.) Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant POINT(-206951.92797074374 7114879.389367339) WSPU https://map.mappingwomenssuffrage.org.uk/files/original/4e7eeaaa6e2431a68da96d778ea3b572.jpg b69d60729ffdecafc59a7a206760790f Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource 1909 NUWSS van tour: Helga Gill is sitting next to the driver. Source: The Women’s Library at LSE. https://map.mappingwomenssuffrage.org.uk/files/original/18502c2a333bafe93f070d5fd7fc31f2.jpg 169bcbb490d95ff6781e01d59c0d3ea4 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource 1912 NUWSS van tour: Helga Gill is 2nd from left. Source: The Women’s Library at LSE. https://map.mappingwomenssuffrage.org.uk/files/original/abd9fb90dcfd47d0de194c47f13ff974.jpeg d87f1e9fb36b0d1d1dfea145989b44c5 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Danehill WI 1918: Helga Gill, wearing her ambulance driver’s uniform is no 29; Marie Corbett, wearing her usual breeches is no 24. Source: Danehill Parish Historical Society with special thanks to Jill Rolfe. Person (Campaigner) A record of a person related to the Mapping Women's Suffrage project Occupation NUWSS organiser Age The age of this person at the time of the 1911 UK Census 25 Marital Status The marital status of this person at the time of the 1911 UK Census Single Address The address of this person at the time of the 1911 UK Census Woodgate, Danehill, Sussex Suffrage Society The suffrage society this person was affiliated with at the time of the 1911 UK Census NUWSS Census This person's response to the 1911 UK Census Complies Biographical Text In January 1906, the Norwegian campaigner Helga Gill (1885-1928) appeared on the platform with the Corbett family, with whom she was staying, at a local Liberal celebration of Charles Corbett’s East Grinstead General Election victory. In June 1907, Norwegian women with a certain level of income were enfranchised; Helga Gill then returned to England to work as a NUWSS organiser. This meant travelling the country, to a Worcester by-election campaign in January 1908, to Cambridge, to Littlehampton and Arundel in Sussex, and to Arbroath in Scotland. In 1909, while Lancashire organiser, with former cotton-mill worker (see) Selina Cooper, she took time out for by-elections in Edinburgh and Stratford-on-Avon, then, after a month at Cardiff, organised a by-election campaign in Mid-Derbyshire. In August 1909, she and friends undertook a NUWSS horse-drawn caravan tour to publicise the cause round the villages of Wales. A report by one of her companions quoted a rural convert: ‘If we had Miss Gill here a month, I think everyone in the county would be a Suffragist.’ Time spent in Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire was followed by a return to Derbyshire for the January 1910 General Election; later that year she moved on from Cumberland and Westmorland to Tunbridge Wells. Her next posting was to Oxford, the Midland Federation of NUWSS branches thanking national headquarters ‘for giving us such an efficient organiser’. ‘So many societies claim her help.’ Before embarking on a month’s NUWSS caravan tour through the Midlands in August 1911, Helga took a break at Danehill, singing with Cicely Corbett at a concert at the Horsted Keynes Congregational Hall. Like Cicely, Helga gave her occupation on the 1911 census form as ‘Suffrage Lecturer’. In January 1912, she toured Ireland for the Irishwomen’s Suffrage Federation, returning there with Cicely Corbett after a spell working in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire. In late 1912, after a NUWSS caravan tour of the Midlands and North Wales, Helga addressed meetings throughout Kent: at Bromley with Cicely Corbett, at Edenbridge with (see) Margery Corbett Ashby. Back in Oxfordshire in 1913, she frequently spoke in company with former militant Evelina Haverfield. In November 1913, in South Lanark for a by-election, Helga worked with members of the NUWSS Scottish Federation, whose secretary, Dr Elsie Inglis, was to be the founder, at the outbreak of war, of the NUWSS Scottish Women’s Hospitals. In December 1914, Helga was a member of the first Hospital Unit to leave for France, working initially in the clothing department at the hospital set up at Royaumont Abbey. She subsequently became an ambulance driver: one of the medals she was awarded was for driving under fire. After the War, Helga settled with her adopted son, a war orphan, at Woodgate Cottage. As the only woman member of the Danehill branch of the British Legion, she ran the Boys Brigade as well as taking over as secretary of the Danehill WI. When she was fatally injured by a tree falling on her car, her obituary in the Mid Sussex Times began, ‘Danehill mourns’; tributes in the Woman’s Leader were written by Margery Corbett Ashby and Millicent Garrett Fawcett. Contributed by independent researcher and writer, Frances Stenlake. Sources: Mid Sussex Times; Women’s Franchise; Common Cause; The Woman’s Leader; local newspapers from all over the country. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Helga Gill Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant ||||osm POINT(363.01285942633336 6628053.466187398) NUWSS https://map.mappingwomenssuffrage.org.uk/files/original/dbfff829480660dcc09bdfcdad884da1.png 00a270a758b5bdcf914c720fb0dc3dc6 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Hilda's warrior-like Joan of Arc design for the later WSPU newspaper The Suffragette. Source: The Victoria and Albert Museum (E.648-1972). https://map.mappingwomenssuffrage.org.uk/files/original/4e67183a8c47a1197cf0eff74d86daa2.png 39704eed22a394c1ccbea234646ae42d Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Hilda Dallas WSPU Christmas card design, 1911. Source: Museum of London (50.82/853). https://map.mappingwomenssuffrage.org.uk/files/original/c4ff7eca84d03cc827df60500ce63fee.jpg b2987bd2f921520d468a9eded5e9e192 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Hilda's designs like this one often featured in the WSPU's newspaper Votes for Women. Source: Votes for Women 2 August, 1912. https://map.mappingwomenssuffrage.org.uk/files/original/2603d4383cb88e32b3d59a55b6f02ff6.png da5851ecf8d7c3eca7d2bbb5858a6ba2 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource A late 1920's costume design by Hilda for a stage play. Source: Victoria and Albert Museum (s.558-1987). Person (Campaigner) A record of a person related to the Mapping Women's Suffrage project Occupation Artist Age The age of this person at the time of the 1911 UK Census 33 Marital Status The marital status of this person at the time of the 1911 UK Census Single Address The address of this person at the time of the 1911 UK Census 35 St George's Mansions, Red Lion Square, Holborn, London. Suffrage Society The suffrage society this person was affiliated with at the time of the 1911 UK Census WSPU Census This person's response to the 1911 UK Census Evades Biographical Text Hilda Mary Dallas was born in Japan in 1878 to British parents and had two surviving siblings – a sister Irene and brother William. Her father Charles taught English in Japan and was renowned as an excellent linguist. Exactly when Hilda returned to England is not entirely clear but by 1901/2 she was enrolled in classes at the Slade School of Art in London. There is nothing to suggest she ever rented a studio and so, like many women artists, likely worked from home. Her commercial portfolio is scant, but she did hold numerous exhibitions with the Allied Artists Association and later with the Society of Women Artists. However, it was in 1909 when her sister Irene was imprisoned for trying to speak with the prime minister, that the two sisters became involved with the WSPU. Hilda who was described as ‘a handsome fair-haired girl’ became the WSPU organizer for South St Pancras and also lent her artistic skills to the WSPU. She designed two striking WSPU posters between 1910 and 1912 and in 1911 produced a WSPU Christmas card (see image). That same year, when the government census survey was taken, the Hilda and her sister were absent from their flat at 35 St George’s Mansions and so, as they are not recorded anywhere else, they were likely participating in the WSPU boycott of the 1911 census by evading. The area where the mansions were has been substantially redeveloped. The following year when there was a split within the WSPU which saw the Pankhursts launch a new newspaper called The Suffragette, Hilda produced a poster for it. The design depicted a Joan of Arc warrior-like figure holding a pennant with WSPU written across it (see images) and was used on other WSPU items such as badges and postcards. During the First World War, Hilda likely became a pacifist and a Christian Scientist. She also turned her hand to stage set and costume design one of which is held at the Victoria and Albert Museum (see images). Hilda and her sister Irene lived together in London for the remainder of their lives until Hilda’s death in 1958. Source: Elizabeth Crawford, Art and Suffrage: A Biographical Dictionary of Suffrage Artists (Francis Boutle, 2018). Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Hilda Dallas Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant ||||osm POINT(-13196.491485691522 6713609.149184717) WSPU https://map.mappingwomenssuffrage.org.uk/files/original/3316df57bba5c5b2b9fae1a0430a8428.jpg 3de4e3238c42dafe1914b45444189ef3 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Hilda was visiting her mother Susan Greg and sisters at Lee Hall in Cheshire with husband Gerard when the 1911 census was taken. Source: courtesy, The National Archives. Person (Campaigner) A record of a person related to the Mapping Women's Suffrage project Occupation Joint secretary of the Nottingham NUWSS Age The age of this person at the time of the 1911 UK Census 28 Marital Status The marital status of this person at the time of the 1911 UK Census Married Address The address of this person at the time of the 1911 UK Census The Manor House, Radcliffe on Trent, Nottingham Suffrage Society The suffrage society this person was affiliated with at the time of the 1911 UK Census NUWSS Census This person's response to the 1911 UK Census Complies Biographical Text Hilda was born in Cheshire and moved to Nottingham on marrying her cousin Gerard Dowson – son of Alice and Benjamin Dowson – they had a son Waldo and daughter Rhonda. She moved to Radcliffe on Trent renting the Manor House from 1905-1921 (now 52 main Street, Radcliffe on Trent) and then buying the Grange where she lived from 1922-1956. She worked with her mother and sisters in law to help women gain the vote in various ways. For instance, participating in a national Votes for women march in London in 1908, helping to organise NUWSS meetings in Nottingham, collecting signatures outside Newark polling station in 1910 and becoming joint secretary of the Nottingham NUWSS branch in 1910. She also acted as a speaker throughout the East Midlands in Northants, Derby, and Bottesford in 1911-12. In 1911 when the census was taken, Hilda was visiting her mother and sisters with husband Gerard in Cheshire (see image). She continued to attend NUWSS meetings between 1918-1924 – when it became the Council of Women - campaigning for legislation to improve the position of women and children. She was active in both WW1 and WW2; was also a founder of Radcliffe Women’s Institute; a part of the Nursing Association; and was a County Magistrate sitting at Bingham. On August 24th, 2019, a plaque was unveiled at her later home the Grange, celebrating her life. Researched and contributed by Nottingham Women's History group www.nottinghamwomenshistory.org.uk. Sources: No Surrender! Women's Suffrage in Nottinghamshire, Rowena Edlin-White (Ed.) Nottingham Women's History Group ISBN:978-1-900074-31- Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Hilda Dowson Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant ||||osm POINT(-116060.14261204023 6973225.859779277) NUWSS https://map.mappingwomenssuffrage.org.uk/files/original/404f999ba3ec78a5c9dbd5943f023286.jpg 53c24ff3d05be4bff754687b7d7ff2aa https://map.mappingwomenssuffrage.org.uk/files/original/aeeb3ede82131c3e50f7b829d2df6682.jpg 25116a971a87d93254f35adb24d9bd66 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Stock House by J.H Le Keux. Source: Hutchins History of Dorset, 1868. Person (Campaigner) A record of a person related to the Mapping Women's Suffrage project Occupation Suffragist Age The age of this person at the time of the 1911 UK Census 51 Marital Status The marital status of this person at the time of the 1911 UK Census Married Address The address of this person at the time of the 1911 UK Census Stock House, Sturminster, Dorset Suffrage Society The suffrage society this person was affiliated with at the time of the 1911 UK Census NUWSS Census This person's response to the 1911 UK Census Complies Biographical Text Innes Elisabeth Skinner (1859-1944) was born on 22 April 1859 at 57 Eccleston Square - the London townhouse of her parents Charles Binny Skinner (1808-1889), a partner in Jardine, Skinner & Co. of Calcutta, and Frances Mary Andrewes (1827-1900). Innes was one of nine children (5 girls & 4 boys) and was probably educated at home (the 1871 census lists a French Governess). From 1867 to 1897 the family owned The Chantry, a large mansion near Ipswich. In 1887, Innes married the Rev. Cecil George Paget (1853-1929), then vicar of Holt in Dorset. They had nine children, although one son died at 8 weeks old and three sons were killed in the First World War. From 1905 to 1917 Cecil was Rector of Stock Gaylard, a small parish in north Dorset. The family lived on the Stock Gaylard estate at Stock House, a small Georgian country house surrounded by 80 acres of deer park. In April 1909, Innes was a founder committee member of the Sherborne branch of the NUWSS and in the 1911 census she gave her occupation as ‘suffragist’. In August 1916, Innes gave an address to the newly founded branch of the Women’s Union in the neighbouring parish of Fifehead Neville, Dorset. Innes may have inherited her interest in women’s rights from her mother who is known to have hosted events in support of the Irish Distressed Ladies’ Fund (1892) and for the House of Training for Lady Workers for the Mission Field (1900). Innes passed this interest on to her youngest daughter Cecily Innes Paget (1902-1979) who went on to teach at the Tumelong Mission in Pretoria, South Africa. A distant relative of the family, Dame Shirley Paget Marchioness of Anglesey, was National Chair of the NFWI from 1966 to 1969. From 1917 to 1922 Cecil was Vicar of Cassington, Oxfordshire where he commissioned a village war memorial on which their three sons who died in the First World War are commemorated. In 1922, Cecil and Innes retired to 70, Woodstock Road, Oxford, where Cecil died in 1929, and Innes died, aged 85, on 29 December 1944. Researched and contributed by Rachel Hassall. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Innes Elisabeth Paget Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant ||||osm POINT(-266528.4329009977 6605782.188775864) NUWSS https://map.mappingwomenssuffrage.org.uk/files/original/4a8e06cb5ec886f2d046ddcfa88a8599.jpg 873a85435017a5b36a06af98e7018538 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Isabel Abraham. Source: Marij van Helmond, 'Votes for Women: The Events on Merseyside 1870-1928' (1992) p. 69 (original source unclear). https://map.mappingwomenssuffrage.org.uk/files/original/7939aa727b8388b5dcd7e74a01898c81.jpg 92a4062750294b0bfb7d72a57b4e32e6 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Isabel's entry (bottom) in the Mount School Register Record Set for 1900. Source: Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York. https://map.mappingwomenssuffrage.org.uk/files/original/4d6e211e096d2fc77e50f531cf3cde5b.jpg e0a3ced592a82a74c26b1b0a42eb5cba Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Isabel is absent from the 1911 census for 53 Bidston Road. Source: courtesy The National Archives. https://map.mappingwomenssuffrage.org.uk/files/original/2a571cb142b66f8ad897716ca88c08a2.jpg 7e166d9814a50877ffd487d3489c2e28 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource A Christmas note written by Isabel on WSPU headed note paper in 1911. Source: courtesy Museum of Liverpool. https://map.mappingwomenssuffrage.org.uk/files/original/d709cede0ea258eabb5c03d0b7946196.jpg 11d32825c4ce3eea7f1d054ccc610724 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Isabel's later home, Swarthmoor Hall, Cumbria. Source: www.swarthmoorhall.co.uk https://map.mappingwomenssuffrage.org.uk/files/original/6ead6c6525111a85d0b0e8d4fb99d791.jpg 7b36b657f84031661098685c62ed7fd9 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Isabel's book on her Quaker ancestor, 'Margaret Fell: Mother of Quakerism'. Source: personal collection photo by Jo Donnelly. Person (Campaigner) A record of a person related to the Mapping Women's Suffrage project Occupation Teacher Age The age of this person at the time of the 1911 UK Census 26 Marital Status The marital status of this person at the time of the 1911 UK Census Single Address The address of this person at the time of the 1911 UK Census 53 Bidston Road, Oxton, Birkenhead Suffrage Society The suffrage society this person was affiliated with at the time of the 1911 UK Census WSPU Census This person's response to the 1911 UK Census Evades Biographical Text Suffrage campaigner Isabel Abraham (later known as Ross) was a committed member of the Women's Social Political Union (WSPU). Isabel started donating to the WSPU in 1908 and remained a regular subscriber until 1913. Perhaps the best indicator of her dedication to 'the Cause' was demonstrated in March 1913 when she sold a bracelet and donated the sale proceeds to the WSPU. Isabel was born on 22nd of August 1885 in Garston, Liverpool, to Thomas Fell Abraham and his first wife Margaret. By 1891 the Abraham family had moved to Birkenhead, residing at 53 Bidston Road, Oxton (point on the map is approximated due to redevelopment). Interestingly, Isabel and her family are descendants of Quaker founder Margaret Fell. In 1904, Isabel secured a place to study History at Liverpool University. While there, she was elected Joint President of the Student Guild. In addition to her Student Guild responsibilities, she was President of the Women's Christian Union and Chair of the Women's Debating Society. The 1911 census return for 53 Bidston Road does not list Isabel as a resident. Her absence was likely a deliberate act of evasion on Isabel's behalf as part of the suffragette boycott of the census. Isabel's teaching records state that she was working as a teacher at County High School for Girls, Wellington in 1911, but there is no trace of her on the census there either. Perhaps Isabel attended the Census Boycott party hosted by local Liverpool suffragette Dr. Alice Ker. In her diaries, Dr. Ker recorded a ‘Miss Abraham’ leaving her home the next day around 5.30. However, Dr. Ker may have been referring to another local suffragette called Dorothy Abraham, so this is unclear. Either way, we know Isabel spent some time back in Birkenhead that year because she sent a Christmas Greetings Note on WSPU headed paper from the family home in Bidston Road. In 1915, Isabel married William Ross McGregor, a civil engineer from London. Shortly after getting married, Isabel and William relocated to Nairobi where Isabel continued her suffrage campaigning founding the East Africa Women's League in 1917. By the early 1920s, Isabel was living with her husband and two sons at Swarthmoor Hall, Cumbria (the ancestral home of Margaret Fell). In 1933, Isabel was appointed Vice-Chair of the British branch of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. Later in life, she wrote a biography of Margaret Fell called ‘Margaret Fell: Mother of Quakerism’. This book is still in circulation and is considered a key Quaker history text. Contributed by Jo Donnelly, Women's History Blogger, www.theherstorianmum.co.uk. Sources: Copy of Birth Certificate via GRO website; Record Set National School Admission Registers, Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York; Sarah Shields ‘Among Friends: The Story of The Mount School, York’ (2007); Marij van Helmond ‘Dr Alice Ker Diaries - Votes for Women: The Events on Merseyside 1870-1928’ (1992); https://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/artifact/votes-women-christmas-wishes Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Isabel Abraham Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant ||||osm POINT(-339871.31840548577 7054106.550809521) WSPU