The NUWSS Procession, 13 June 1908

The Votes for Women demonstration held in London on 13th June 1908, depicted in this image was organised by the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies. The event was intended to convince the new Liberal Prime Minister Asquith that there was mass support in the country for female suffrage. It was attended by thousands of women members of the NUWSS from all corners of the UK who arrived in London on specially chartered trains. The 'glorious spectacle' enhanced by the gowns of doctors and graduates and 'nearly a thousand beautiful banners and bannerettes, each different, each wrought in gorgeous colour and rich materials' attracted much public, press and photographic interest, including that of the female photographer Christina Broom who took this image.
The women in Broom's image appear to be posing for the camera. In the centre can be seen the Homemaker's banner, designed by the artist Mary Lowndes for the event. The double sided banner had on one side, as seen in the image a design of the fire of the hearth and the lamp of happy evenings. On the reverse was the phrase 'Remember their homeless sisters'. The banner, one in a series designed by Lowndes, founder of the Artists Suffrage League, for the 1908 procession was announced in Women's Franchise on 14 May 1908 with the explanation 'Under it we hope that any will walk who feel their special sphere is the home. The group should comprise all classes of home-makers, the lady at the head of the house, the housekeeper, the children's nurse, the cook, the parlourmaid etc'.