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23 October 1913: Bristol University Suffragette arson
Published 3 weeks, 2 days ago
Description
On this day, 23 October 1913, suffragettes carried out an arson attack on Bristol University's recently-built boat house at their athletics ground.
Suffragette literature was left nearby as well as a note saying "Business before pleasure. Hobhouse being responsible will pay. Release Mary Richardson."
Mary Richardson was a London suffragette who had recently been imprisoned for an arson attack on a house in Hampton-on-Thames. Hobhouse was presumably aristocrat and Liberal cabinet minister Charles Hobhouse.
In retaliation for the attack, around 300 Bristol University students attacked the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) shop which was nearby, smashing its windows, and burning its literature in the street. The student publication subsequently stated: “We may congratulate ourselves on the completeness of our revenge on the ‘Suffs'… The arm of the law is just too short to reach these female fanatics”.
This incident was one of many such arson attacks by the WSPU.
More information, sources and map: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/12633/bristol-sports-pavilion-attack
Our work is only possible because of support from you, our listeners on patreon. If you appreciate our work, please join us and access exclusive content and benefits at patreon.com/workingclasshistory.
Suffragette literature was left nearby as well as a note saying "Business before pleasure. Hobhouse being responsible will pay. Release Mary Richardson."
Mary Richardson was a London suffragette who had recently been imprisoned for an arson attack on a house in Hampton-on-Thames. Hobhouse was presumably aristocrat and Liberal cabinet minister Charles Hobhouse.
In retaliation for the attack, around 300 Bristol University students attacked the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) shop which was nearby, smashing its windows, and burning its literature in the street. The student publication subsequently stated: “We may congratulate ourselves on the completeness of our revenge on the ‘Suffs'… The arm of the law is just too short to reach these female fanatics”.
This incident was one of many such arson attacks by the WSPU.
More information, sources and map: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/12633/bristol-sports-pavilion-attack
Our work is only possible because of support from you, our listeners on patreon. If you appreciate our work, please join us and access exclusive content and benefits at patreon.com/workingclasshistory.
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