Deeds not words – Overlooked detail sheds new light on 1913 Derby protest

On 26th July 2013, BBC Woman’s Hour continues its women’s suffrage coverage with an in depth discussion. The panel of experts includes the author of my last guest blog post, Elizabeth Crawford.

For me, Emily Wilding Davison’s brave Epsom Derby protest was the stand out event of 1913.

It remains a controversial act, with some arguing to this day that it damaged the case for women’s suffrage.

 

 

Over the last year more evidence has come to light to suggest that Emily had every intention of returning from the Derby victorious, having carried out her assignment. We will of course never know for sure.

However, an overlooked detail that women’s suffrage expert V. Irene Cockroft recently brought to my attention is one of the strongest pieces of evidences I have so far come across to suggest what Emily’s true intentions might have been.

 

 

In this next guest blog post, V. Irene Cockroft, highlights that simple, yet insightful detail:

The inquest jury set great store by Emily Wilding Davison’s buying a return train ticket, Epsom Racecourse to Victoria. The value was not insignificant. The return ticket cost 3s/6d in 1913. The equivalent fare today is £6.60 each way or £13.20 return.

When after the collision with the King’s horse Emily was taken unconscious to Epsom Cottage Hospital, the police officer in charge listed the coins in her purse as amounting to 3s/8d three-farthings.  Comparing this with the cost of the rail ticket, Emily’s coins would represent about £14 today.

 

Emily Wilding Davison’s purse and return ticket on display at a Women’s Library exhibition earlier this year (2013)

In 1913 Derby race-goers could expect to find gypsy children all over the course, begging for pennies. Given Emily’s known love of children and generous nature, even had she been badly depressed which all the evidence shows that she was not, (her friend Mary Richardson’s eye-witness account states that Emily was smiling to herself just before she darted under the safety rail*), it would have been characteristic of Emily to have given all her change to children if she felt she had no further need of it.

Remember the story of Emily’s exuberant throwing of Black Bullet sweets to Longhorsley village children when she learned she had passed her Oxford University exam?

If she felt she could afford it, could Emily have resisted the pleasure of bestowing on fourteen impoverished children the equivalent of £1 a-piece?

*Sleight, J, One-way Ticket to Epsom, P.16

ART, THEATRE and WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE – Irene Cockroft & Susan Croft

 

Guest blog post by V. Irene Cockroft
Irene is an independent exhibition curator, author and lecturer specialising in the story of women’s involvement in the late 19^th, early 20^th century Arts & Crafts and Suffrage movements.

From 7th May to 31st August 2013, Epsom & Ewell commemorated the centenary of the death of Emily Davison, and the cause for which she died, with Dying for the Vote, a pivotal free exhibition at the Borough Museum at Bourne Hall, Ewell.

Bourne Hall Museum, Spring Street, Ewell, Surrey, KT17 1UF     Tel: 020 8394 1734

For more information on the Dying for the Vote exhibition, click here.

 

 

Irene has been very supportive of TO FREEDOM’S CAUSE, having seen much of the R&D work over the past couple of years. Her advice and extensive knowledge have been invaluable to the play’s development.

 

“I have followed with interest and pleasure the progress of your topical, insightful play from the early, struggling days of its incarnation when its economic viability must have been in question, to its culmination with bookings and praise all over the country throughout the Emily Davison centenary commemoration period.  May To Freedom’s Cause be just as welcome and popular a teaching resource, one hundred years hence.”
– Irene Cockroft

 

Working in partnership with Arts Council England, Northumberland County Council’s Emily Inspires! project and the Greater Morpeth Development Trust, TO FREEDOM’S CAUSE had a very successful two and a half week tour in June 2013.

At the heart of the programme was the determination to create an ongoing Public platform for Emily and her campaigning for equality.  With this in mind it is hoped that the play will be able to build on the success of June 2013 and continue to be a part of Emily’s important legacy.

For further information, click here.

Please do get in touch.

@katewilloughby8
@2FCPlay
Facebook.com/ToFreedomsCause