Emily Wilding Davison and Parliament
A collection of archive documents and artefacts marking the anniversary of Emily Wilding Davison's death in 1913.
The 1911 Census
- Emily Wilding Davison's census forms, 1911 - At a time when some suffragettes were evading the census, it is ironic that Emily was recorded twice; once in Parliament, and once at her lodgings in Russell Square. The original census forms are held at The National Archives.
- Plaque to Emily Wilding Davison - This was put up by Tony Benn MP to commemorate her stay in Parliament on census night.
Parliament's police reports
These are police reports held by the Parliamentary Archives in a Serjeant-at-Arms office file titled 'Police and Suffragettes'. The reports are mostly written by Chief Inspector Scantlebury, the head of the police in Parliament, and addressed to Sir H David Erksine, the Serjeant-at-Arms.
- Attempt to present a petition - Emily's first appearance among Parliament's police reports, among a list of suffragettes taken into custody.
- Hiding in a ventilation shaft - Emily's first solo demonstration in Parliament.
- Breaking a window in the Crown Office - Emily usually targetted the House of Commons, but this incident took place at the other end of the building, in the House of Lords.
- Banned from Parliament - As a direct result of the ventilation shaft and Crown Office incidents, the Speaker decided she should be banned from the premises.
- Hammer through Division Lobby window - Despite the ban, Emily continued her protests in Parliament with another window-breaking incident.
- Report of trial - Emily was tried for the hammer incident and went to prison.
- Found on staircase - Emily's last appearance in Parliament's police reports has her found on a staircase near the Commons chamber in the middle of the night.
Emily's death
Memorial leaflet, 1913 - Emily died in 1913 after a collision with the King's horse at the Derby.
In this section
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Case studies
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Emily Wilding Davison and Parliament
- Emily Wilding Davison census form
- Plaque to Emily Wilding Davison
- Attempt to present petition
- Emily Wilding Davison found hiding in a ventilation shaft
- Emily Wilding Davison breaking a window in the Crown Office
- Emily Wilding Davison banned from Parliament
- Emily Wilding Davison throwing a hammer through a Division lobby window
- Emily Wilding Davison report of trial
- Emily Wilding Davison found on staircase of reading room
- Emily Wilding Davison memorial leaflet
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Emily Wilding Davison and Parliament