Arrest and imprisonment of nine suffragettes in Winson Green Prison, Birmingham, following violent protests and incidents linked to a visit by the Prime Minister, Herbert Henry Asquith, to Birmingham on 17 September 1909. Those imprisoned, with sentences ranging from one to three months, were Laura Ainsworth, Patricia Woodlock, Ellen Barwell, Hilda Evelyn Burkett, Leslie Hall, Mabel Capper, Mary Edwards, Mary Leigh and Charlotte Marsh. The file contains police reports, newspaper reports and a large number of medical reports on the health of the prisoners, several of whom went on hunger strike and were forcibly fed. It also contains letters from the prisoners' relatives, medical opinions from a number of doctors on force-feeding, including a large typescript book of medical evidence, and a number of parliamentary questions from the Labour MP Keir Hardie on the prisoners' welfare. There are signed letters from Emmeline and Christabel Pankhurst, and various petitions, including two from Charlotte Marsh. The release of Laura Ainsworth on 5 October 1909 is noted. - Archives Direct

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Field name	Value
Reference	HO 45/10417/183577
Department/Office	Home Office
Title	Arrest and imprisonment of nine suffragettes in Winson Green Prison, Birmingham, following violent protests and incidents linked to a visit by the Prime Minister, Herbert Henry Asquith, to Birmingham on 17 September 1909. Those imprisoned, with sentences ranging from one to three months, were Laura Ainsworth, Patricia Woodlock, Ellen Barwell, Hilda Evelyn Burkett, Leslie Hall, Mabel Capper, Mary Edwards, Mary Leigh and Charlotte Marsh. The file contains police reports, newspaper reports and a large number of medical reports on the health of the prisoners, several of whom went on hunger strike and were forcibly fed. It also contains letters from the prisoners' relatives, medical opinions from a number of doctors on force-feeding, including a large typescript book of medical evidence, and a number of parliamentary questions from the Labour MP Keir Hardie on the prisoners' welfare. There are signed letters from Emmeline and Christabel Pankhurst, and various petitions, including two from Charlotte Marsh. The release of Laura Ainsworth on 5 October 1909 is noted.
Date	1909
Collection	Women in The National Archives
Region	Europe
Countries	United Kingdom
Places	Bath; Bristol; Holloway; Liverpool; London; Manchester; U. S. A.; United Kingdom
People	Asquith, Herbert; Cobden-Sanderson, Annie; Gladstone, Herbert; Hardie, Keir; Kenney, Annie; Leigh, Mary; Pankhurst, Christabel; Pethick-Lawrence, Emmeline; Sullivan, Dr W. C.; Troup, Sir Edward
Topics	assault; Bail; demonstration; deputation; first division prisoners; forced feeding; general election; hunger strike; Medical Officer; nasal tube; Parliament; prison; Prison Commissioners; second division prisoners; suffragettes; Suicide; ventilation; Visiting Committee; Women's Social and Political Union
Copyright	Crown Copyright documents © are reproduced by permission of The National Archives London, UK

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