Behind the Scenes at Mouse Castle

08/03/2023

For International Women's Day!

International Women's Day 8 March 2023

07/10/2022

https://www.findmypast.co.uk/blog/history/famous-suffragettes

07/10/2022

https://www.findmypast.co.uk/blog/history/famous-suffragettes

The British suffrage movement and its determined members stopped at nothing to win equal rights. Discover which famous suffrage leader you're most like and then explore and their amazing stories.

07/10/2022

https://www.findmypast.co.uk/blog/history/black-suffragettes

Sarah Parker Remond is one of the only Black women that we can be sure supported the British suffrage movement. Who was she and where were the other Black suffragettes? Sophie Goode takes a closer look.

07/10/2022

Hello from Hermione, Thank you so much to the groups that have visited this week to see Behind the Scenes at Mouse Castle At times like these, with such pressure on social housing all over the country, it is kind of people to remember the great women who fought for social housing and the vote, and who gave their house to help others. Yes we are in Notting Hill/Holland Park but the reason the housing association is getting women to move out is because of the Tory-led property boom in West London and their obvious their disgust for any social conscience, or any thought for anyone but themselves.

I find it important to remember, having been homeless, that it can happen out the blue and as a result of relationship or financial or health problems. We understand when we need the health service, we don't blame someone for getting ill or being in an accident. It is just as important to understand that any of us may need housing at sometime in our lives.

To give something back I am doing my best to honour the Brackenbury trio - Hilda, Marie and Georgina - who lived at 2 Campden Hill square for 50 years. They looked after suffragettes here who needed to rest and recuperate after being imprisoned as criminals rather than as political prisoners. This was also the headquarters of the WSPU in 1914. We have restored the gardens and documented phases of mismanagement by the housing association. This we hope will bring about reform that will benefit other tenants.

The Brackenburys were wonderful artists as well.

Instead of preserving the past, the housing association developed their artist's studio in the garden. Instead of housing 3 women as the Brackenburys had done, the housing association divided up the accommodation so it was not self contained (despite letting the public believe it was in 1950s newspaper reports) so that in there were 14 flat-lets. (since 1999 there are 9) Lack of privacy and the ability to exchange flats influences tenants' futures. So no, Housing for Women are not empowering women, they are doing the opposite. On International Women's Day this year they announced they were selling a property and making women move out. They told the tenants it was because Transport for London would not co-operate. We contacted TFL who told us that they had NEVER BEEN APPROACHED. We have seen a government since 2010 systematically dismantle some of the aspects of life in the UK - housing and health services - and we have had politicians in charge who have lied repeatedly. This gives a tone to all government. There must have been incentives for groups or individuals to go against all that we hold dear in caring for each other.

More needs to be done. And we will do it.

Love from Hermione ###

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Ernestine Evans Mills was an English metalworker and enameller who became known as an artist, writer and suffragette.