Vinaigrette

This vinaigrette was used by the social reformer Elizabeth Fry (1780-1845). It is one of a number of personal items owned by Elizabeth and donated to the museum by her Great Great Granddaughter. The family believe Elizabeth used the vinaigrette, that held perfume, during her many visits to Newgate prison to counteract the appalling smell and insanitary conditions of London's most notorious prison.
Elizabeth first visited Newgate in 1813 and was deeply affected by the experience. She returned to the prison in 1817 and wrote of her meeting with a condemned woman awaiting execution ‘This has been a time of deep humiliation to me, this witnessing the effect of the consequences of sin. The poor creature murdered her baby; and how inexpressibly awful now to have her life taken away.’
Elizabeth subsequently funded a school in Newgate to educate the children of women prisoners and co-founded the Association for the improvement of Female Prisoners to provide moral, religious and educational support to the women and instruct them in reading, mathematics and practical skills such as sewing that would improve their prospects on release. Elizabeth's work in raising awareness of appalling prison conditions led, in 1818 to her becoming the first woman to provide evidence to a House of Commons committee on the subject of prison conditions, ultimately leading to the Prison Reform Act of 1823. Elizabeth travelled widely throughout Europe to promote her prison reforms. She also supported prisoners being transported to Australia and other British colonies and was influential in the passing of laws prohibiting the use of leg irons during transportation and ensuring nursing mothers should not be taken until their child was weaned.
Away from the prison environment Elizabeth also supported social causes including setting up a shelter and soup kitchens for the homeless in London and assisting women forced into sex work find alternative employment. Along with other Quakers, including family members, Elizabeth also campaigned for the abolition of the Transatlantic slave trade. In the last years of her life she founded a nursing school to improve the education and nursing standards of those in training.