More information : The Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) was founded on 10 October 1903 at a meeting held at 62 Nelson Street, Manchester. This was the home of Emmeline Pankhurst who became the leader of the WSPU.
By 1906 it was felt necessary to move the WSPU campaign to London. They sought a political solution to women's enfranchisement and, with the seat of government in London, this was where they must be based.
At the end of January 1906, Annie Kenney, a WSPU member, moved to London and it was her home at No. 45 Park Walk Chelsea that became the address for WSPU correspondence. She was also became the WSPU's first paid organiser and earnt £2 a week.
In October 1906, a formal WSPU office was opened at 4 Clement's Inn, London. (1)
While the WSPU became known as the 'suffragettes' who fought a militant campaign, their original intention wasn't to use violence in order to secure the right to vote. The moment considered to mark the beginning of the militant campaign was in October 1905 when Christabel Pankhurst and Annie Kenney were arrested at a Liberal Party meeting held at the Manchester Free Trade Hall. Asking if the Liberal Party would enfranchise women, they were ignored and thrown out of the meeting before being arrested for obstruction and spitting at a police officer. (2)
According to the 1918 edition of the Post Office London Directory, No. 45 Park Walk was on the east side of the road, to the south of St. Andrew's Church and Camera Square. (3)
Please see TQ2658077777 on the OS map dated 1916. (4)
Please see TQ2658077777 on the OS map dated 2007 (MasterMap). (5)
Comparing the OS maps dated 1916 and 2007 (MasterMap), Camera Square has since been renamed Chelsea Park Gardens. If No. 45 Park Walk was located immediately after Camera Square as suggested by the Post Office London Directory, then it is possible it no longer exists since the building on this site in 1916 had a different footprint to that on the 2007 OS map. (6)
This website contains some historical information about the WSPU and features images of objects relating to the WSPU in the collection at the Museum of London. For further information, click on the link in the list of sources. (7)
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