Letter fragment signed ‘Mary E. Gawthorpe’

A letter fragment, 11.5 x 9.5 at widest edge, with ‘Faithfully yours,’ typed and the manuscript signature of Mary E. Gawthorpe written in blue ink beneath; annotated ‘Miss Gawthorpe. / Women’s Social and Political Union. / 24 January 1909’ beneath; clipped from the original full letter. 

A scarce signature belonging to the suffragette, socialist, trade unionist and editor, who was described by Rebecca West as "a merry militant saint" and by Syvlia Pankhurst as a ‘heroine’. Gawthorpe was responsible for establishing a WSPU presence in Leicester, and was imprisoned on several occasions for her political activities. She was also badly beaten and suffered serious internal injuries after heckling Winston Churchill in 1909, the same year this note was penned.   

SKU: 1800203