Slow moving, but unstoppable
The National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) was known as the suffragists.
The suffragists were the much less militant side of the campaign for women's votes. It was founded in 1897 under the leadership of Millicent Fawcett who focused on democratic and legal based campaigning to make the voice of the suffragists heard.
Whilst not aligned with any political party, the NUWSS would often promote political candidates who were pro-suffrage. This, however, led to problems with both of the main political parties, with Conservatives and Liberals arguing as to the benefits and drawbacks of women achieving the vote. This meant there was a constant stalemate in the House of Commons. In 1903, this stalemate led many women to join the more militant WSPU, in order to shock politicians into action.
In 1913, The NUWSS organised the women's suffrage pilgrimage, which brought women from all over the country to come together on London's Hyde Park on 26 July 1913. More than 50,000 women were in attendance.
As part of their journey, they travelled and stopped at Uxbridge on 24 July, the last stop before London.
Use our interactive map to see the route of the NUWSS pilgrimage and local sites of suffragette activity.
Tax scandal
In 1915, Katherine Anne Raleigh was summoned to court in Stratford-Upon-Avon for failing to pay her taxes. She argued that the onus was on the prosecution to prove she was of taxpaying age.
She was fined £3 plus solicitor's fees and a number of her items were sold at public auction to cover her unpaid taxes.
When the date of the auction arrived, a number of her fellow suffragettes came along and bought her items, most notably a silver spoon set.
Katherine Anne Raleigh
- Lived at 8 Park Road in Uxbridge, neighbour to the Uxbridge NUWSS headquarters.
- Active and prominent member of the local NUWSS and the Women's Tax Resistance League.
- Described as a teacher and scholar, who often gave educational talks to her fellow NUWSS members.
- Was fined for refusing to pay her taxes in 1915.
Tax Resistance League
The Tax Resistance League argued that if women were not permitted to own property or vote, they should not be forced to pay taxes to support a government that did not see them as citizens.
Members of the Tax Resistance League would first refuse to pay their taxes, which would result in a summons to court, and then would then (often with other members) barricade themselves in their home and refuse to allow any bailiffs to enter their property.
Eventually, the sieges would break and their property would be seized and sold off at auction. It was once reported than a Rembrandt was auctioned for just £75 on one such occasion. It was also reported that 'local Tory thugs broke up Women's Tax Resistance League and other suffragette meetings in West Drayton and Harefield'.
Images
- NUWSS Leaflet
Suffragette Pilgrimage Uxbridge - Taken from the Kings and Hutchins Scrapbook - No Vote No Tax 50.82/1074b
Copyright Museum of London