Lady Constance Lytton

Postcard portrait of Lady Constance Lytton (1869-1923) wearing a WSPU 'Holloway badge' in the shape of a portcullis to the right of her large bow. Beneath is printed 'Lady Constance Lytton Women's Social and Political Union' and the organisation's address. The front of the card is signed 'Constance Lytton' and on the back is handwritten 'Holloway Feb 24 to March 24th 1909,' referring to one of Lytton's periods of imprisonment.
Constance Lytton joined the WSPU in 1908. She served four prison sentences for her suffragette activities. Born into an aristocratic family, Lytton was dismayed at the special treatment she received from the authorities owing to her family connections. When arrested in Liverpool while disguised as a working class woman 'Jane Warton', she was sentenced to hard labour and forcibly fed when going on hunger strike. This exposed the worse treatment to which working class prisoners were subject. Lytton later suffered a stroke owing to her prison experiences.