Holloway brooch

The Holloway brooch was presented by the Women's Social and Political Union (WPSU) to women who had been imprisoned at Holloway Prison for militant suffragette activity. It is also referred to as the "Portcullis badge",[1] the "Holloway Prison brooch"[2] and the "Victoria Cross of the Union".[2]

Holloway brooch
Holloway brooch from the UK Parliamentary Collections
CountryUnited Kingdom
Presented byWomen's Social and Political Union

Background
Violet Ann Bland's Hunger Strike Medal and Holloway Brooch

Beginning in 1902 Holloway Prison was a female-only prison in London, England.[3] In the early part of the twentieth century many suffragettes were incarcerated at the prison. As their actions became more militant the women received more severe sentences. Once in prison the women continued their protests, eventually going on hunger strikes as they demanded to be designated as "political prisoners".[4]

Holloway brooch

The Holloway brooch was designed by Sylvia Pankhurst. Made of silver, it depicts the portcullis symbol of Parliament and a broad arrow, associated with prison uniforms, in purple, white, and green enamel.[1][2] The brooches were given to suffragettes upon their release from Holloway.[4] The size is one inch by ​3⁄4 of an inch.[5] It was manufactured by Toye & Co London.[6]

On 29 April 1909 the first brooches were distributed at a large meeting at the Albert Hall organised by the WSPU.[7][8] The first brooches were presented by Christabel Pankhurst and Emmeline Pankhurst, Annie Kenney and Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence.[9]

Recipients of the Holloway brooch
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

See also

References
  1. Garrett, Miranda; Thomas, Zoë (2018). Suffrage and the Arts: Visual Culture, Politics and Enterprise. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 9781350011830.
  2. "Holloway Prison brooch". UK Parliament. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  3. "Holloway Prison closure announced". BBC News. 25 November 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  4. Davies, Caitlin. "The Suffragettes and Holloway prison". Museum of London. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  5. "Clara Giveen Holloway Brooch". Rowan and Rowan. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  6. "A silver Holloway Prison brooch with enamel suffragette colours". Invaluable. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  7. "Collecting Suffrage: The WSPU Holloway Brooch". Woman and her Sphere. 19 October 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  8. "Our history – Suffragette brooch". Islington Life. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  9. "From the Archives: The 'Holloway' brooch presented at historic Suffragette meeting, 29 April 1909". Royal Albert Hall. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  10. "Who's Your Heroine? Laura Geraldine Lennox". RTÉ. 27 January 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  11. Suffragettes-STUDENT-V1.pdf (PDF), p. 22-23, retrieved 3 June 2020
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