A trailblazing free-thinker

I remember being at school in the mid-1960s when my imagination was captured by learning about the Suffragettes of the early twentieth century and their campaign for ‘Votes for Women’.  These women are still remembered today for their militant ‘deeds, not words’ campaign which included chaining themselves to railings, heckling politicians, smashing windows, arson and even bombing.   Their confrontational methods often resulted in sexual assaults, arrests, imprisonment, and force-feeding while on hunger strike in prison.  This dramatic activism brought widespread public attention to the issue of women’s suffrage, generating controversy and polarising public opinion.  Led by iconic figures such as Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughters Christabel and Sylvia, the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) founded in 1903, became synonymous with the suffragette cause.

However, there was also another, now largely forgotten movement: the Suffragists.  Predominantly led by the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS), founded in 1897 by Millicent Fawcett, they advocated the use of peaceful and constitutional methods to achieve their goals.  The NUWSS organised petitions, lobbied Members of Parliament to support women’s suffrage, raised funds, and organised marches.  Their approach was characterised by peaceful, respectable, and legal means, in stark contrast to the militancy and direct action of the WPSU.  Mrs Fawcett aptly described this movement as ‘like a glacier; slow moving but unstoppable’ during a speech in 1911.

Both movements faced significant opposition from the more conservative elements in society, including politicians and the media.  Incredibly, at the time, many of the arguments ranged from concerns as to women’s intellectual inferiority to the fear that by granting women the vote would disrupt traditional gender roles and destabilise society…

Eventually, despite the differences in tactics, both suffragists and suffragettes shared a common goal which culminated with a certain amount of success with the Representation of the People Act 1918, which granted the vote to some categories of women over the age of 30.  It would be another ten years before the Representation of the People (Equal Franchise) Act 1928 extended voting rights to all men and women over the age of 21.

As a project before the centenary of the Representation of the People Act, I began researching women’s suffrage in my local area of Rochester in Kent and was advised by a local museum that ‘nothing really happened around here’.   Further research proved them completely wrong!!  Rochester, and the Medway Towns generally, played a significant role in the suffrage movement with many meetings, rallies and other actions and activities, some featuring visits by Mrs Pankhurst and her daughters. 

I also began to find out about the life and work of Vera Conway Gordon, a dedicated campaigner for women’s rights, who led the law-abiding NUWSS in Rochester.  Coincidentally, she lived just a few doors away from me and her story of hope, optimism, and sheer bloody-mindedness, inspired me to take the lead in honouring her legacy.  This led to the initiative of transforming an existing but neglected raised garden space on Rochester’s Esplanade into an accessible sensory area for visitors of all ages and abilities by volunteers of the Friends of Rochester Churchfields & Esplanade (FoRCE).

Vera was born in Multan, India (now Pakistan) on August 21st 1874 to Colonel Lewis Conway-Gordon and his wife Mary (nee Cubitt).  Mary was the daughter of civil engineer Joseph Cubitt, known for projects such as the London, Chatham and Dover Railway, and granddaughter of Sir William Cubitt, also a civil engineer, who oversaw the creation of the cast-iron replacement to the medieval bridge over the Medway at Rochester, which opened in 1856. The piers of that bridge still support Rochester’s ‘Old Bridge’ to this day.

Vera and her mother returned to England before 1881[iii] and, in 1890, they were joined by Vera’s father who was taking a two-year sabbatical from his post as Director General of the Railways in India.  Vera and her parents took up residence in Longley House[iv], overlooking the Esplanade Gardens and she was enrolled at the nearby Girls’ Grammar School, then an intimidating red-brick building on nearby Maidstone Road, where she would spend the next two years as a day pupil.

Vera’s father took retirement from the Indian Civil Service in 1892 and was invited to stand for Rochester as a Liberal candidate in 1895 but was tragically killed in a sailing accident in June of that year, just a few weeks before the election.

In the early twentieth century, societal norms dictated that women were subservient to men with marriage often seen as the pinnacle of achievement for wealthier women, whilst their less privileged contemporaries were often relegated to roles as cheap labour until they too were married and took on the role of ‘unpaid domestic duties’ for their husband and family.

Opportunities for women in the professions were severely limited, as they were generally barred from obtaining university degrees.  As a result, it’s unsurprising that in 1901, at the age of 26, Vera is recorded on the census as having no occupation[vi].  She was still living at Longley House with her mother, who was listed as ‘Living on own Means’ indicating that she likely received a substantial pension from her late husband.  Given her mother’s financial situation, Vera found herself in the unusual position – for the time – of not requiring marriage or paid employment to support herself, allowing her the opportunity to devote herself to more satisfying pursuits.

Surviving photographs of Vera portray a somewhat androgynous figure.  As a member of the Dickens Fellowship and Rochester Dickens Players, Vera was deeply involved in the theatrical community giving lectures, directing, and appearing in numerous productions over the years, often playing the principal character such as Uriah Heep, Barnaby Rudge and David Copperfield.  Her performances were well received, with one review praising her as ‘a striking figure in armour’[vii] and commending her ‘masterly interpretation of the leading role’[viii] in a Walter Scott epic.

Beyond her literary and theatrical pursuits, Vera was an avid animal lover.  She found success at several Kent shows with her African Grey parrots and cocker spaniel dog. She also found time to deliver lectures on animals and their characters as depicted in the works of Charles Dickens, confirming her passion for literature and animals alike.

Although the Suffrage movement in the Medway Towns began as early as 1870, with the first suffrage meeting being held in the Rochester Corn Exchange in 1875, it did not become a large scale movement until after 1910 when the first Conciliation Bill, which was to grant suffrage to one million women who owned property over the value of £10, was passed in the House of Commons but failed to become law.  Later that year, 300 members of the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) marched on Parliament where they were met with unprecedented police brutality, assaults, and arrest.  Over a period of six hours on 18^th November, a day which became known as ‘Black Friday’, women were battered with truncheons, punched, and thrown to the ground by the police or had their faces rubbed against the railings outside the House of Commons. There were also widespread reports of police sexually abusing the women: grabbing their breasts, lifting their skirts, and groping them[ix].

The Rochester Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) was established in 1911, coinciding with Vera’s publication of her first novel, ‘Ordeal by Marriage‘ (published under the name of Conway Vere) which criticised loveless and arranged marriages.  Shortly afterwards, in January 1912, Vera initiated the Rochester branch of the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS).  The branch began with 43 members, including herself[x].  Previously, supporters of the suffrage movement often joined both organisations, but as the WSPU’s tactics turned more militant, the NUWSS began to attract increased support.  This shift was particularly evident in Rochester, a Liberal stronghold, where local suffragists were primarily middle-class women, many married to respectable businessmen.

By March 1912, the Rochester branch of the NUWSS had expanded its reach to include the nearby towns of Strood and Frindsbury, and membership had grown to 60[xi].  At a meeting held in the Rochester Corn Exchange, Lady Frances Balfour, President of the NUWSS and one of the most prominent members of the British aristocracy involved in the women’s suffrage movement, addressed the attendees and Vera was appointed Honorary Secretary of the branch.

As an organisation, the NUWSS consistently emphasised its non-militant stance and made efforts to distance itself from the arson and window-smashing campaigns of the WSPU. 

Around this time, a significant development occurred when the Labour Party became the first political party to include female suffrage in its manifesto.  In conjunction with this, the NUWSS launched the Election Fighting Fund policy, committing to support any party officially endorsing suffrage in an election where the candidate would challenge an anti-suffrage Liberal. This move effectively signalled the NUWSS members’ support for the Labour Party.

Vera served as Rochester’s delegate to the 1912 NUWSS Annual Council in London when Katherine Harley suggested the idea for a national march, or ‘pilgrimage’ to remind the public, who were by now becoming accustomed to repeated sensationalist stories about militant tactics, that the women’s suffrage movement had a much larger constitutional and non-militant wing.  The NUWSS agreed that such a peaceful demonstration would promote the enormous educational work that was being done by many tens of thousands of peaceful, law-abiding suffragists.

The ’Great Pilgrimage’, as it became known, began on 18^th June 1913, when the first pilgrims set off on six main marching routes to London, from Carlisle and Newcastle in the north to Lands End and Portsmouth in the south.  For several weeks during that summer thousands of women marched, rode on horseback, or cycled from different points across England and Wales to London as they campaigned peacefully for the right to vote.

The march was meticulously organised, with advanced information provided to pilgrims including a village-by-village itinerary, outlining accommodation options and other facilities along the route.  Some women brought horse-drawn caravans, while others stayed with local supporters or organised group camping facilities along the way.

By 17^th July, the northern Kent pilgrims reached Rochester and Vera Conway Gordon, carrying a large placard, led the way to a service in Rochester Cathedral before marching on through Strood towards Maidstone.   Four days later, the northern and southern Kent pilgrims meet in Tonbridge and walk the “Kentish Pilgrims’ Way” to London together.

Just over a week later, on 26^th July, all six routes converged on London, culminating in a peaceful rally held in Hyde Park attended by over 50,000 people, marking a significant moment in the suffrage movement.  The following day, a service was held at St. Paul’s Cathedral further emphasising the importance and solemnity of the occasion.  These events served to demonstrate the widespread support and determination of the suffragists across the country who were united in their demands for women’s rights.

The Times newspaper commented: ‘the “pilgrimage” of the law abiding advocates of votes for women ended in a great gathering in Hyde Park attended by some 50,000 persons.  The proceedings were quite orderly and devoid of any untoward incident.  The proceedings, indeed, were as much a demonstration against militancy as one in favour of woman suffrage.  The entire absence of disorder and the unquestioned success of the demonstration are the reward of the great body of women suffragists who seek to convince the country that the taint of militancy is not upon them. Many bitter things were said of the militant women.’

After the ‘Great Pilgrimage,’ Vera, now serving as President of the Rochester branch of the NUWSS, continued her activism by organising local public meetings and protest marches.  These events were regularly covered in the local press, validating the ongoing commitment of the suffrage movement in Rochester.  

In 1913, Vera published her second novel, ‘The Celibacy of Maurice Kane.‘  Despite being tantalisingly promoted in suffrage journals such as ‘The Common Cause,’ ‘The Suffragette,’ and ‘Votes for Women,’ along with other publications, Vera must have been disappointed by the mixed reviews her efforts received.  Nevertheless, her dedication to the suffrage cause and her literary pursuits continued to make an impact within the movement.

The Rochester NUWSS branch experienced significant growth, swelling to 159 members by 1914 and becoming the fourth largest group in Kent, after Maidstone, Sevenoaks, and Tunbridge Wells[xii].   Suffrage campaigning in the Medway area during this period mainly involved distributing literature and holding meetings, which occasionally featured national speakers.

By March 1914, as the threat of war loomed, a letter appeared in the Chatham Observer, signed by ‘Non-Militant’ [xiii](likely penned by Vera herself), addressing the counter-argument against women’s suffrage based on physical strength.  The writer challenged this notion, stating that while men may argue their physical power to wound and slay as a reason for voting rights, women possess a different kind of strength.  The letter highlighted the power of women to nurse the sick, wounded, and dying, emphasising their ability to heal and restore health.  Moreover, it suggested that bearing children is a nobler calling than bearing arms, implying that women’s roles in society were equally significant  – if not more so – than those of men.  This perspective challenged traditional gender roles and advocated for the recognition of women’s contributions to society as a basis for their right to vote.

In June of the same year, Vera once again wrote to the Chatham Observer[xiv] to express her desire that women should be granted the vote to symbolise the broader significance of the women’s movement.  She articulated that women’s suffrage represented more than just a political right; it signified women’s freedom, the expansion of their horizons, and their entry into a fuller and greater life.  She saw the vote as a symbol of true equality and co-operation between the sexes, essentially for serving the interests of all humanity.   Vera also noted the disparity between opportunities available to men and women, highlighting that while any man could achieve greatness regardless of his background, women faced significant barriers to attaining positions of power and influence in the state.

With the outbreak of war on August 4, 1914, the NUWSS recognized that suffrage propaganda was not currently appropriate.  As a result, the organisation redirected its efforts towards relief and assistance for women affected by the war.  In October of that year, Vera appealed to the Chatham Observer[xv] for the rent-free use of a large room in Rochester or Strood, as well as donations of games, magazines, cups, saucers, urns, and other items to facilitate the provision of light refreshments.  She emphasised the importance of supporting the wives and dependents of the fighting men, stating that this work was pre-eminently the responsibility of a Suffrage Society, as the National Union had always been dedicated to the welfare of women.

Fortunately, Vera and her fellow members succeeded in their efforts, securing a hall in Strood High Street at the affordable cost of three shillings per week.  Described as bright and cheerful, the became a hub for the wives and mothers of servicemen away at war.  They were offered a cup of coffee with a bun for a penny and enjoyed entertainment and activities organised by local Suffragists, including reading, games, music and talks on subjects of domestic and national interest.

The Representation of the People Act 1918 marked a significant milestone in the suffrage campaign.  Passed by a coalition government, it granted the right to vote to all men and to women aged over 30 who owned or occupied property worth more than £5.  Vera, however, did not meet these criteria as she still lived at home with her mother at Longley House.

Ironically, Vera’s mother had been a member of the Anti-Suffrage League, a counter movement whose members believed that women lacked the capacity to understand politics and make political judgements.  Despite this, Vera remained dedicated to the suffrage cause and continued her advocacy for women’s rights.

‘The Crown of Humanity’, Vera’s third and final novel was published in 1921, but did not achieve significant success.  Unfortunately, the British Library’s only copy was destroyed during a World War II bombing raid.

It wasn’t until 1928 that the Conservative government passed the Representation of the People (Equal Franchise) Act, granting the vote to all women over the age of 21 on equal terms with men.  Vera, at last, was entitled to vote.  However, her joy would have been tinged with sadness as her mother, by then in her mid-eighties, died in April that year and was buried in St Margaret’s churchyard near to their home at Longley House.

Shortly after her mother’s death, Vera left Rochester and moved to a small cottage in Tankerton, near Whitstable, about thirty miles away to start a new life with her long-time companion Rose Carter, a retired governess who was approximately 15 years her senior[xvi].  However, Vera, by now in her mid-fifties, had to find a way to support herself and Rose, so she took on the role of a shopkeeper, selling corn seed and grocery[xvii]. 

In those days, society still placed a strong emphasis on traditional gender roles, so Vera and Rose would have kept their relationship private, presenting themselves as ‘companions’ to the outside world at a time when same sex-relationships were not legally recognised nor accepted by mainstream society.  Their discrete resilience and perseverance quietly laid the groundwork for future generations to challenge societal norms and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights.

In her later years, alongside her ongoing commitment to giving talks and lectures for the Dickens Fellowship, Vera was actively involved in various committees and fundraising efforts for charities such as the RSPCA, Poppy Appeal and others.  She was also a founder member of the Whitstable branch of the United Nations Association. 

Vera led a long and active life but was almost destitute[xviii] when died of heart failure a few days before her 82nd birthday on 12 August 1955 in Whitstable Hospital.  She was buried in Whitstable Cemetery in grave 5 – D – 65.   

When first I saw Vera’s death certificate, I was left angry and disappointed at the injustice of seeing her described only as a ‘Spinster Daughter of Lewis Conway-Gordon Colonel H.M. Army (Deceased)’.   

Despite this trite description on an official document, Vera’s legacy lives on through her lifelong commitment to women’s rights, her literary contributions, her late-career endeavours, and her active involvement within her local community.   She was a trailblazer and advocate for social change, leaving a lasting imprint on history. 

I sincerely hope the creation of the Suffrage Sensory Garden will serve as a fitting tribute to her lifetime achievements, honouring her memory and inspiring future generations to continue the fight for equality and justice.

Footnote:
Rose outlived Vera and celebrated her 100^th birthday in 1959 at Benstead House, the former Faversham Workhouse, where she’d been a resident since Vera’s death.   As Rose was the first resident to reach such an impressive milestone, this was a very special occasion attended by several local dignitaries and Rose, who received a congratulatory telegram from Her Majesty the Queen, wore a red dressing gown and red ribbon in her white hair that day, perhaps as a subtle homage to Vera and the colours of the NUWSS suffragists[xix].   Rose died peacefully in October 1959[xx].

---