A Horse and Carriage Advertising the Suffragette 'Fete'

A horse and carriage advertising the 'fete' to be held by the Women's Social and Political Union at the Earl's Court Exhibition, 1908

On Saturday 25th July 1908 the WSPU held a 'fete' within the Hungarian Exhibition at the Earl's Court Exhibition Grounds. The purpose of the Exhibition was to sustain public interest in the campaign following Women's Sunday of 21st June and also to generate funds for the campaign 'war chest'. The WSPU 'fete' included six platforms where visitors could hear speeches by the Suffragette leaders Christabel, Emmeline, Annie Kenney, Ada Martel and Mary Gawthorpe at 4pm and 8.30pm. Also within the exhibition grounds was a stall selling Votes for Women newspapers, pamphlets and postcards. Suffragettes helping out on the day, either behind the stall or as 'literature sellers were encouraged to dress in white and wear regalia or badges. In a lucrative arrangement with the Exhibition organisers the WSPU took an equal share of the money received at the gates in excess of the average 'gate money' of the exhibition for the day.