Sheffield

__**Sheffield**__

Between 1907 and 1914, the Women's Suffrage Movement were building their campaign, and using greater militant action to step up political and social pressures through social awareness. Women now had a greater involvement in political campaigns, campaigning under the motto 'light of liberty, of knowledge, of mercy, of truth and love'.

In Novemver 1903, Isabella Ford from the NUWSS and Christabel Pankhurst from the WSPU spoke on the same platform in Sheffield to encourage women to take up the suffragette cause; 3 years later, a Sheffield branch of the WSPU was formed. In December 1908, the Sheffield branch of the Women's Freedom League was founded. The Women's Freedom League was an organization that campaigned for women to have the right to vote, run for office, and for sexual equality.

Christabel Pankhurst Suffragette cartoon in a Sheffiel Newspaper in March 1913

During the First World War, the number of active members of WFL declined, and only 9 women attended the 1917 meeting. By 1913 there were also branches in Sheffield of the Friends' League for Women's Suffrage.

__**Adela Pankhurst**__

In 2011, a plaque was commemorated to honour the famous suffragette Adela Pankhurst who lived and worked at 45 Marlborough Road from 1909 - 1910. She used the house as a base for the Sheffield's campaign for women's suffrage. Adela Pankhurst was also the organizer and secretary of the Sheffield branch of the WSPU. Adela Pankhurst also helped in opening a 'suffrage shop' at 26-28 Chapel Walk. 45 Marlborough Road, Sheffield

In 1908 an attempt was made to enter the Cutlers' Feast, at which the First Lord of the Admiralty was the guest speaker, Adela Pankhurst disguised herself as a kitchen maid and tried to enter the Cutlers' Hall; but was stopped by the police. In response she made a speech from the Town Hall steps, but was moved on by the police; Adela made a second attempt to enter Cutlers' Hall later in the evening but failed.

The campaign for female suffrage played a prominent part in electoral discussions across the city.