Supporters of women’s suffrage in Pittville

The following Pittville residents were supporters of the women’s suffrage movement in the period around 1911-12 when the campaign was at its height. At that time there were various groups active in Cheltenham; the groups with membership in Pittville included:

• The Conservative and Unionist Women’s Franchise Association
• The National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies
• The Women’s Social and Political Union (known as the suffragettes)

Many supporters signed the album of thanks presented to the Cheltenham MP Sir James Agg-Gardner, in 1912 in recognition of his work for women’s suffrage. In March 1912, he had introduced the second reading of the Conciliation Bill, which would have given the vote to around a million women. The bill was defeated by 14 votes, but his involvement was much appreciated by women’s suffrage supporters in Cheltenham.

Some of those in the list – especially members of the more militant WSPU – were also “census evaders”.

Additional information is taken principally from entries in the 1911 census. For more information on the suffrage movement in Cheltenham and the roles of the various groups and individuals, see Sue Jones, Votes for Women – Cheltenham and the Cotswolds (The History Press, 2018).

Augusta Bagnall-Oakeley (c.1868-1961), of Edgbaston House (now The Gate House), East Approach Drive, was a member of the Conservative and Unionist Women’s Franchise Association and signed the 1912 Agg-Gardner album.

Richard Bagnall-Oakeley (c.1867-1947), husband of Augusta (above), of Edgbaston House (now The Gate House), East Approach Drive, was a member of the Conservative and Unionist Women’s Franchise Association and signed the 1912 Agg-Gardner album. In the 1911 census he was living on private means.

Isabel Carruthers (c.1855-1921), of Holmains, 19 Wellington Square, was a member of both the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies and the Conservative and Unionist Women’s Franchise Association, and signed the 1912 Agg-Gardner album. Her husband was an Indian Army Officer. See also Mary Ann Murray (below), who lived at the same address.

Helen Compton (c.1873-1954), of 28 Clarence Square, signed the 1912 Agg-Gardner album. In the 1911 census she was living in Clarence Square with her husband, a building society clerk, their two daughters and a servant.

Amy Creese, of Atherstone Lawn (88 Portland Street), contributed to the funds of the Women’s Social and Political Union in 1911. She appears to have been a census evader; the census form for her household has the words “wife away” entered and then crossed out, suggesting that her husband Alfred, a draper, may have been unsure how to handle the issue. She may well have gone to some “safe house” with other supporters on census night.

The Hon. Estelle de Courcy (c.1890-1984) of The Grange (Marle Hill House), Evesham Road, was a member of the Conservative and Unionist Women’s Franchise Association and signed the 1912 Agg-Gardner album. Her father, Lord Kingsale (see below), was the President of the CUWFA.

Michael de Courcy, Lord Kingsale (born c.1856), of The Grange (Marle Hill House), Evesham Road, was President of the local branch of the Conservative and Unionist Women’s Franchise Association and signed the 1912 Agg-Gardner album.

Gladys Daubeny, of Haddo, Pittville Circus Road, appears to have been a census evader, as neither she nor her mother or sister were listed on the 1911 census form for Haddo by her father. In 1912, as Gladys Mellersh, she became the Honorary Secretary of the Cheltenham branch of the Women’s Social and Political Union (known as the suffragettes) (see Jones, pages 103-4).

Florence Earengey (1877-1963), of 3 Wellington Square, was Secretary of the Cheltenham branch of the Women’s Social and Political Union in 1906 and then a member of the committee of the Women’s Suffrage Society from 1906-1910. She subsequently became the leader of the Women’s Freedom League in Cheltenham until the outbreak of war, first as Secretary and then as President. She helped to organise the 1911 census evasion campaign in Cheltenham and took part herself. She also signed the 1912 Agg-Gardner album. For a full account click on her name.

William Earengey, (born c. 1876), of 3 Wellington Square, was a member of the Women’s Suffrage Society and of the Women’s Freedom League. 

Mabel Earwaker (c.1863-1912), of Fern Lawn (now Scoriton), Pittville Crescent, was a member of the Women’s Social and Political Union (known as the suffragettes) and contributed to WSPU funds. Her husband was a retired calico printer.

Blanche Gilbert-Day (c.1856-1927), of 11 Pittville Villas (46 Prestbury Road), was a member of the Conservative and Unionist Women’s Franchise Association and signed the 1912 Agg-Gardner album.

Adelaide Grist (c.1869-1916), of 7 Wellington Square, was a member of both the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies and the Conservative and Unionist Women’s Franchise Association and signed the 1912 Agg-Gardner album. Her husband was the director of a manufacturing company (see below).

Richard Grist (c.1869-1938), of 7 Wellington Square, was a member of the Conservative and Unionist Women’s Franchise Association and signed the 1912 Agg-Gardner album. He was the director of a manufacturing company.

Emily Gurney, (born c.1859), of 12 Wellington Square, was a member of the Conservative and Unionist Women’s Franchise Association and signed the 1912 Agg-Gardner album. The 1911 census records her husband, Walter Gerald Gurney (a solicitor), two children, a visitor and three servants, but there is no record of Emily, so she may well have been a “census evader”.

Helena Heath (c.1850-1922), of Wellesley Court, Clarence Square, was a member of the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies and signed the 1912 Agg-Gardner album. She was also on the committee of the NUWSS from at least 1908-1910. In the 1911 census she was aged 61 and unmarried, living on private means with her sister and two servants.

Arthur Hyatt (c.1866-1936), of 2 Portland Terrace (35 Prestbury Road), signed the 1912 Agg-Gardner album. In the 1911 census he is shown as a house decorator; he was a widower living with his four children and a housekeeper.

Kate Jackson, (c.1861-1934), of 41 Clarence Square, was a member of the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies and signed the 1912 Agg-Gardner album. In the 1911 census she is recorded as the wife of John Jackson, a grocer, living in Clarence Square with one servant.

Sybil Lambert (c.1878-1971), of Longville, Pittville Circus Road, was a member of the Conservative and Unionist Women’s Franchise Association and signed the 1912 Agg-Gardner album. Aged 33 and unmarried, she was the daughter of a retired GPO surveyor, living with her parents and two servants.

Thomas Lyon (c.1854-1932), of 17 Pittville Villas (34 Prestbury Road), was a member of the Conservative and Unionist Women’s Franchise Association and signed the 1912 Agg-Gardner album. He was a tutor at a Church of England training college (presumably Cheltenham Training College, now Francis Close Hall).

Lucy March-Philipps (c.1821-1908), of 4 Wellington Square, was a member of the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies.

Catherine McMurdo (born c.1859), of 2 Clarence Square, was a member of the Women’s Social and Political Union (known as the suffragettes). She may have been a census evader – in the 1911 census her details have been crossed through. She had also contributed to WSPU funds in 1911, so was prepared to be counted publicly, as these contributions were listed in Votes for Women, the WSPU newspaper.

Mary Ann Murray (c.1843-1921), of Holmains, 19 Wellington Square, was a member of the Conservative and Unionist Women’s Franchise Association and signed the 1912 Agg-Gardner album. See also Isabel Carruthers (above), who lived at the same address.

Clara Ratcliff (born c.1887), of 8 Leamington Place, Prestbury Road, was a member of the Conservative and Unionist Women’s Franchise Association and signed the 1912 Agg-Gardner album. In the 1911 census her occupation was given as a domestic help in letting rooms.

Isabel Rogers-Harrison (c.1863-1956), of Kenilworth, Pittville Lawn, was a member of both the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies and the Conservative and Unionist Women’s Franchise Association. She signed the 1912 Agg-Gardner album. Her husband was retired from the Indian medical service.

Fanny Selous (c.1863-1955), of 19 Clarence Square, was a member of the Women’s Suffrage Society and the Women’s Social and Political Union (known as the suffragettes).

Elvira Stirling (c.1887-1980), of 30 Clarence Square, was a member of the Women’s Social and Political Union (known as the suffragettes). On the 1911 census form she gave her occupation as “women’s suffrage WSPU worker”. On the form, which was signed by her mother Frances (see below), is written “Hoping that a more generous and just legislation for women will soon be forthcoming from those in power in Great Britain.” Elvira is presumably the ‘Miss Stirling’ who dressed the window of the WSPU committee room in Cheltenham in April 1911.

Frances Stirling (born c.1860), of 30 Clarence Square, was a member of the Women’s Social and Political Union (known as the suffragettes) and the Conservative and Unionist Women’s Franchise Association. She signed the 1912 Agg-Gardner album. On the 1911 census form she gave her occupation as “private means – suffragette WSPU” and wrote “This form is filled in through the magnanimity of a suffragette. Hoping that a more generous and just legislation for women will soon be forthcoming from those in power in Great Britain.” Her husband was an army officer and she was the mother of Elvira Stirling (see above).

Katharine Waddy (c.1848-1935), of Harwood House, Wellington Square (later of Evesham Lodge, Prestbury Road) was a member of the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies and the Women’s Social and Political Union (known as the suffragettes). She also signed the 1912 Agg-Gardner album.

William Welstead (c.1848-1929), of 23 Clarence Square, signed the 1912 Agg-Gardner album. He was the Managing Director of a draper’s company.

William Winson (c.1831-1913) of Cotswold Lodge, Pittville Circus Road, was a member of the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies. He was a retired Major General of the Bengal Staff Corps.