Mrs Pankhurst, the prominent suffragette, speaking at Haverfordwest, c.1908

Description

This badly-damaged but rare photograph shows Mrs Pankhurst, the prominent suffragette, addressing a crowd at the Castle Square, Haverfordwest. It was probably taken in 1908, when Mrs Pankhurst and other leading suffragettes canvassed during the by-election of that year. The suffragettes had come to campaign against the Liberal candidate, Mr Roch, because Mr Asquith, the Liberal Prime Minister, was opposed to the enfranchisement of women. Their efforts were unsuccessful (the Liberal candidate romped home) but, despite hostility from the local press, the suffragettes in Pembrokeshire were, on the whole, treated with courtesy. This was in marked contrast to their reception in many other localites. Suffragettes were often subjected to very harsh treatment, such as being pelted with rotten eggs or bags of flour, stripped of some of their garments or even beaten with sticks and umbrellas.

The 'Suffragettes' derived their name from the word 'suffrage' - meaning the right to vote - and campaigned tirelessly, and often with great personal sacrifice, for the right of women to vote in elections. They met with partial success in 1918, when women of property over the age of 30 were permitted to vote. However, it was not until 1928 that women gained full equality with men in terms of their voting rights.