Sash

This Votes for Women sash was previously owned and worn by Agnes Kelly at suffragette demonstrations and processions.
First seen at Women's Sunday held on 21st June 1908 the regalia or sash soon became an essential part of the 'suffragette uniform'. The Votes for Women's newspaper urged suffragettes to wear the sash to all public events and gave instruction that 'the regalia will be worn over the right shoulder and will be fastened under the left arm'. The purple, white and green colour scheme of the suffragettes was devised by Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence in 1908. She described the symbolism of the colours as follows: 'Purple as everyone knows is the royal colour. It stands for the royal blood that flows in the veins of every suffragette, the instinct of freedom and dignity...white stands for purity in private and public life...green is the colour of hope and the emblem of spring.'
In March 1912 Agnes Kelly was arrested for smashing windows at the premises of Henry Sotheran & Company, a bookseller located at 43 Piccadilly. When arrested Agnes used the alias Oonah Ceallaigh [Caillagh] and was sent to trail and convicted under this name. It was estimated the damage caused by Agnes was over £7,000. Found guilty of the offence she was sentenced to 4 months imprisonment and sent to Aylesbury prison due to overcrowding at Holloway. During her stay in Aylesbury Agnes joined the Suffragette hunger strike and was force-fed by the authorities. On release she was awarded a WSPU Hunger Strike medal, also held by the museum.