Treasurer, Tunbridge Wells Women’s Suffrage Society

68

Widow

The Wildernesse, Pembury Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

NUWSS

Complies

Lydia (1843-1927) was the Treasurer of the Tunbridge Wells Women’s Suffrage Society. On the 1911 census, by the names of two of Lydia’s servants was written ’suffragist’ (see Sarah Reynolds and Caroline Marchant). No further information is known at this stage about any involvement they may have had in the suffrage movement. Lydia’s family began by supporting the WSPU. In 1908 her daughters Dorothy and (see) May, with friend Gladys Sherris (Henfield) were driven by Lydia’s elder son from Tunbridge Wells to London to participate in the WSPU 21st of June procession. Their motor car was described as being ‘brilliantly decorated for the occasion, with rosettes in green, white and purple’ and with a small “Votes for Women” placard fixed in front of the car and a large notice advertising the demonstration hanging out at the back. Later that year, however, Dorothy was to found the Tunbridge Wells branch of the WFL. Another of Lydia’s daughters, Kate, was arrested after taking part in a WSPU demonstration in November 1910. Lydia participated in the NUWSS pilgrimage from Kent to London in 1913 entertaining 30 to 40 guests at her house. In the same year, a Miss Le Lacheur attended a meeting about the Tunbridge Wells Nevill Cricket Ground which had been destroyed by suffragettes in an arson attack. This was probably Dorothy who with two other women interrupted the meeting and kept interjecting questions to those speaking against women’s suffrage. For more information see Jennifer Godfrey, Suffragettes of Kent, (Pen & Sword Ltd, 2019). Researched & contributed by Jennifer Godfrey with thanks to Frances Stenlake for additional advice.