The suffragette movement swept the country in the late 19th and early
20th centuries. Led by the Pankhurst's, the focus of the movement was in
London with demonstrations and rallies taking place across the capital.
But this was a nationwide movement with a strong northern influence with
Edith Rigby being an ardent supporter. Edith was a controversial figure,
not only was she was the first woman to own and ride a bicycle in her
home town but she was founder of a school for girls and young women.
Edith followed the example of Emmeline Pankhurst and her supporters and
founded the Preston branch of the Women's Social and Political Union.
She was found guilty of arson and an attempted bomb attack in Liverpool
following which she was incarcerated and endured hunger strike forming
part of the 'Cat and Mouse' system with the government. During a
political rally with Winston Churchill Edith threw a black pudding at a
MP.
There are many tales to tell in the life of Edith Rigby, she was
charismatic, passionate, ruthless and thoroughly unpredictable. She was
someone who rejected the accepted notion of what a woman of her class
should be the way she dressed and the way she ran her household but she
was independent in mind and spirit and always had courage in her own
convictions. As a suffragette, she was just as effective and brave as
the Pankhurst women. This is the story of a life of a lesser known
suffragette. This is Edith's story.
