THEY set fire to the pier, threw eggs in the street and heckled Winston Churchill, all in the fight for women’s right to the vote.
Born out of popular groups such as the Women’s Liberal Association (WLA), it was in 1909 during the lead up to the general election that activity amongst Southport suffragettes started radicalise.
Prior to that the WLA had been the middle ground between the National League for Opposing Women’s Suffrage (NLOWS) and the hardline Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU), who adopted a mantra of “deeds not words”.
Being a gentile area with a conservative background, the NLOWS held the initial sway for Southport ladies, while the vote was just one of many other issues discussed at WLA meetings.
But with the arrival of the Pankhursts delivering speeches, the WSPU began to develop a foothold in the area prompting deep debate, reported the Visiter, of whether their actions were “unfeminine and wrong” or necessary to secure equal standing for women in society.
The most audacious schemes were led by Dora Marsden, who was pivotal in the plan to barrack the Liberal government, and their representative Winston Churchill, when he visited Southport electioneering.
Miss Marsden, a university graduate, Esther Eversley and a Miss Tolsen spent more than 15 hours hidden away in the roof of the majestic Winter Gardens, above the 2,500 seat auditorium, and waited for Churchill to show.

As he began his address, his wife was reported to wave at someone in the rafters, and soon cries of “votes for women” came raining down, forcing Churchill to pause.
The women were so high the stewards took some time to reach them and when they did, almost sent Dora Marsden rolling off the roof and into the history books as the movement’s first martyr.
Although Churchill was said to be sympathetic to the cause, his Liberal stewards were less pleased as they had spent the princely sum of £250 on security for the event.
While all this was happening a Miss Gawthorpe was being arrested on Coronation Walk for throwing eggs, while declaring: “The authorities are vexed at us outwitting them, but we shall do it wherever Mr Churchill and the cabinet ministers go.”
The women were charged but the case was dismissed in Southport public court, prompting much celebration and considerable admiration at their heroism.

In 1913, following a number of low level disturbances and property damage, the Southport suffragettes embarked on one of their most ambitious and destructive plans.
Arriving at 2am on July 8, they covered seats and other fixtures of Southport Pier with paraffin and set it alight.
Luckily for the pier, some fishermen and the nightwatchman John Howard spotted the blaze and promptly extinguished it with buckets of water, but not before £100 of damage had been caused.
Written on a nearby wall were the words: “This good work deserves votes.”

What happened to Dora Marsden? If you think you know, or if you have any images or information on the radical suffragette, contact LookBack on 01704 398225

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