Holloway: The North London prison that housed the suffragettes
Opened for almost two centuries, Holloway Prison was once the biggest women’s jail in Europe and it housed symbolic members of the movement for women’s vote. Today, the site is planned to make room for expensive luxury flats
Holloway Prison then and now. Sources: Wikimedia Commons / London Collage
Although not much is left of the walls that witnessed the last female execution in 1955, Holloway Prison went down in history as a jail where famous suffragettes on hunger strike were force-fed. Holloway was also the place where famous inmates such as murderers Tracie Andrews and Jane Andrews were imprisoned.
But, ironically, today the site is planned to be sold and used for a 2-billion-pound housing development - plans that face opposition of campaigners, who claim the prison should be used for community purposes-.
When Holloway was built in 1852, it was originally a mixed-sex prison but it became a female-only prison in 1902. Through the years, it went through various redevelopments: the biggest change the building underwent took place between 1968 and 1983.
During those fifteen years Holloway was rebuilt and transformed into a local prison and a psychiatric.
Its doors closed in 2016 following several campaigns that claimed the prison was "inadequate and antiquated". The announcement by the Chancellor, George Osborne, of the decision of moving the inmates to a more adequate and modern jail was widely welcomed by some, and rejected by others, since, as The Independent reported, the last inspection commented most women "were held safely and treated decently".
Although it started as a mixed-sex prison, it quickly became one of the most famous women's only jails, being known also as the biggest prison in Europe housing only female inmates.
The suffragettes movement
In the 19th century, women had no role in national issues, as it was believed that their husbands would take responsibility in national politics matters. During the industrial revolution, women started working full-time and this lead to them organising in groups to discuss social and political issues, as well as their role in society.
By the end of the century, the right to vote had acquired significant importance in women’s struggle for equality. The movement to gain vote rights for women had two wings: the suffragists - a group that appeared in the mid-19th century - and the suffragettes - that came into being in 1903 and whose leader was Emmeline Pankhurst.
The leader of the suffragettes, Emmeline Pankhurst, addresses the crowds. Source: Wikimedia Commons
Emmeline set up the Women Social and Political Union (WSPU), a militant organisation whose members were young working class women. Their motto was “deeds not words” as they believed there was a need for more active methods in order to make their voices heard. Some of their tactics consisted of breaking the law, using violence and going on hunger strikes.
These tactics led to the imprisonment of many suffragettes but won the sympathy and support from the public.
The suffragettes at Holloway Prison
Suffragettes Anney Kenney and Christabel Pankhurst. Source: Wikimedia Commons
Over 300 suffragettes were imprisoned at Holloway in the early 20th century, and according to the City of London official records, prisoners who engaged in hunger strikes were force-fed by the Prison Commission.
Apart from Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughters Sylvia and Christabel, Holloway also housed other symbolic members of the suffragettes movement including Anne Miller Fraser, Constance Markeivicz, Charlotte Despard, Mary Richardson, Dora Montefiore, Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington, and Ethel Smyth.
In 1912 “The March of the Women” known as the suffragettes anthem, was performed by the suffragettes on the prison grounds.
Where: 392, Camden Road, London N7 0SJ
