Farm Produce Stall, Women's Exhibition

The Women's Exhibition, organised by the Women's Social and Political Union to recruit new members and raise funds for the Votes for Women campaign, was held at Princes' Skating Rink in Knightsbridge between 13th and 26th May 1909 and viewed by the leadership as a triumphant success. The farm produce stall sold items such as jams and marmalade made and donated by Suffragettes living in the more rural areas of the UK. Cash prizes were awarded daily throughout the Exhibition for a range of categories including the best pair of fowls, drawn and trussed for table, the best pound of butter, the best eggs and the best assortment of vegetables.
Such stalls reflect the organisers efforts to ensure the participation of all regional and provincial WSPU branches in the Exhibition to maximize the fund-raising potential of the event. As well as contributing to general stalls such as the farm produce and flower stall regional branches all had their own stalls full of local produce and donations made and offered by local members.
This image by Christina Broom depicts, in the top row, third on the right the Suffragette Kitty Marshall. Seated in the front are sisters Edith (on the left) and Ellen Beck (on the right)
Ellen (1845-1940) and Edith (1847-1930) Beck were born into a large Quaker family in Isleworth, Middlesex. Their family had been involved in the abolitionist movement in the early 19th century and the sisters had, with their mother, signed the Declaration in Favour of Women’s Suffrage
in 1889. They moved to Billingshurst, West Sussex, in 1901 and by 1907 they subscribed to the WSPU. Both keen gardeners the sisters played a key role in organising the farm produce stall selling produce grown at their home, the 100-acre Duncan’s and Hook Farm, just outside Billingshurst. Apart from this contribution to the campaign 'war chest' Ellen & Edith travelled regularly to London to attend WSPU meetings, and Edith, aged 63 was arrested at Black Friday in November 1910. Although this was the first and only time one of the sisters was held in custody, they continued with their support for the
movement and participated in the census evasion of April 1911. Edith participated in the first women’s march from Edinburgh to London organised by suffragist Florence de Fonblanque and the sister provided sanctuary for Harriet Kerr at their farm on her release from prison. After the war they joined the Women’s Freedom League and continued to support localcauses, particularly those that supported women and children. They are most well-known in their locality for providing the Women’s Hall for the women in Billingshurst, which was opened in 1923 and is still a focal part of the community today.