Florence Canning
Florence Canning, the eldest child of the Reverend Thomas Canning (1820-1902), vicar of Tupsley and his wife Eliza Hampden Phillips Canning (1841-1917), was born on 19th May 1863. She had six siblings: Philip (1864-1950), George (1865–1891), Frances (1866-1960), Arthur (1869-1951), Frederick (1872-1944) and Winifred (1875-1939). (1)
Canning worked as an artist before joining the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) in 1906. Votes for Women later claimed: "Full of life and energy, of ardent temperament she possessed a notable gift for making converts. Her untiring and devoted work for the cause and activity in speaking won her audiences all over England, while her rare graces of mind and body brought her innumerable friends." (2)
Florence adopted the name Lovell when active in the WSPU. She attended a meeting held held on June 30 on Caxton Hall. Emmeline Pankhurst put the following resolution: "This meeting calls upon the Government to extend the Parliamentary franchise to those women who possess the qualifications which now entitle men to vote; and the meeting further demands that this reform be effected by means of a separate and distinct measure to be immediately carried into law." (3)
The authorities decided to send in 5,000 foot police and 50 mounted men to break-up the meeting. Sylvia Pankhurst later reported: "Women spoke from the steps of the Government buildings and offices in Broad Sanctuary, they lifted themselves above the people by the railings round the Abbey Gardens and Palace Yard, or raised their voices standing among the crowds on road or pavement. They were torn by the harrying constables from their foothold and flung into the masses of people... Then roughs appeared, organized gangs, who treated the women with every type of indignity... I was obliged to drop my handbag with keys and purse, to have my hands free to protect myself. The roughs were constantly attempting to drag women down side streets away from the main body of the crowd... Enraged by the violence and indecency in the Square, Mary Leigh and Edith New took a cab into Downing Street, and flung two small stones through the windows of the Prime Minister's house." (4) It was later revealed that these gangs had been hired by Scotland Yard. (5)
Florence Canning was one of those arrested and charged with obstruction. Other members who were arrested included: Mary Phillips, Jessie Kenney, Florence Haig, Elsie Howey, Octavia Lewin, Edith New, Marion Wallace-Dunlop, Maud Joachim, Mary Leigh and Vera Wentworth. (6)
Florence Canning: WSPU Militant
The next day at Westminster police court twenty-seven women, including Florence Canning appeared in court. Mary Phillips said "The Government has forced us to adopt tactics, and the Government is solely responsible." Florence was given the option of finding a surety in £20 or going to Holloway Prison for a month. "All the defendants refused to find sureties and were committed to prison in default. They were removed shortly after three o'clock, a large crowd cheering the prison van as it drove away." (7)
In court the women wore white dresses and were relieved to hear the sentence because they feared it would be a much longer sentence. However, the Manchester Guardian protested in a leading article: "Their stringent imprisonment... violates the public conscience." (8) However, Millicent Fawcett, leader of the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies (NUWSS), said later that it was this incident that resulted in her condemning the methods being used by the WSPU. (9)
After leaving prison she stayed at Eagle House, Batheaston with Colonel Linley Blathwayt, his wife, Emily Blathwayt, and his daughter, Mary Blathwayt. Colonel Blathwayt was sympathetic to the WSPU cause and he built a summer-house in the grounds of the estate that was called the "Suffragette Rest". Members of the WSPU who endured hunger strikes went to stay at Eagle House. Colonel Blathwayt also designed an arboretum which was planted with trees by suffragette ex-prisoners. Eventually, fifty-four trees with their accompanying plaque were established there. Florence Canning planted an Oregon cedar at Annie's Arboretum on 25th April 1909. (10)
In 1909 the Church League for Suffrage was founded by the Reverend Claude Hinscliffe. He argued the objective was "to secure for women the Parliamentary Vote as it is or may be granted to men; to use the power thus obtained to establish equality of rights and opportunities between the sexes, and to promote the social and industrial well-being of the community." (11)
His intention was to: "band together, on a non-party basis, Suffragists of every shade of opinion who are Church people in order to secure for women the vote in Church and State, as it is or may be granted to men." Later he stated that: "The methods of the League are Devotional and Educational." The following year Maude Royden became secretary of the CLWS. Florence Canning joined and other members included Margaret Nevinson, Edith Mansell Moullin, Minnie Baldock, Clare Mordan, Olive Wharry and Katherine Harley. (12)
1910 Conciliation Bill
In January 1910, H. H. Asquith called a general election in order to obtain a new mandate. However, the Liberals lost votes and was forced to rely on the support of the 42 Labour Party MPs to govern. Henry Brailsford, a member of the Men's League For Women's Suffrage wrote to Millicent Fawcett, the leader of the National Union of Woman's Suffrage Societies (NUWSS), suggesting that he should attempt to establish a Conciliation Committee for Women's Suffrage. "My idea is that it should undertake the necessary diplomatic work of promoting an early settlement". (13)
Emmeline Pankhurst, the leader of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) agreed to the idea and they declared a truce in which all militant activities would cease until the fate of the Conciliation Bill was clear. A Conciliation Committee, composed of 36 MPs (25 Liberals, 17 Conservatives, 6 Labour and 6 Irish Nationalists) all in favour of some sort of women's enfranchisement, was formed and drafted a Bill which would have enfranchised only a million women but which would, they hoped, gain the support of all but the most dedicated anti-suffragists. (14) Fawcett wrote that "personally many suffragists would prefer a less restricted measure, but the immense importance and gain to our movement is getting the most effective of all the existing franchises thrown upon to woman cannot be exaggerated." (15)
The Conciliation Bill was designed to conciliate the suffragist movement by giving a limited number of women the vote, according to their property holdings and marital status. After a two-day debate in July 1910, the Conciliation Bill was carried by 109 votes and it was agreed to send it away to be amended by a House of Commons committee. However, when Keir Hardie, the leader of the Labour Party, requested two hours to discuss the Conciliation Bill, H. H. Asquith made it clear that he intended to shelve it. (16)
Emmeline Pankhurst was furious at what she saw as Asquith's betrayal and on 18th November, 1910, arranged to lead 300 women from a pre-arranged meeting at the Caxton Hall to the House of Commons. Pankhurst and a small group of WSPU members, were allowed into the building but Asquith refused to see them. Women, in "detachments of twelve" marched forward but were attacked by the police. (17)
Florence Canning was one of the women who attended the demonstration. Votes for Women reported that 159 women and three men were arrested during this demonstration. (18) This included Ada Wright, Catherine Marshall, Eveline Haverfield, Anne Cobden Sanderson, Mary Leigh, Vera Holme, Louisa Garrett Anderson, Kitty Marion, Gladys Evans, Cecilia Wolseley Haig, Maud Arncliffe Sennett, Clara Giveen, Eileen Casey, Patricia Woodcock, Vera Wentworth, Mary Clarke, Henria Williams, Lilian Dove-Wilcox, Minnie Turner, Lucy Burns and Grace Roe. (19)
Sylvia Pankhurst later described what happened on what became known as Black Friday: "As, one after the other, small deputations of twelve women appeared in sight they were set upon by the police and hurled aside. Mrs Cobden Sanderson, who had been in the first deputation, was rudely seized and pressed against the wall by the police, who held her there by both arms for a considerable time, sneering and jeering at her meanwhile.... Just as this had been done, I saw Miss Ada Wright close to the entrance. Several police seized her, lifted her from the ground and flung her back into the crowd. A moment afterwards she appeared again, and I saw her running as fast as she could towards the House of Commons. A policeman struck her with all his force and she fell to the ground. For a moment there was a group of struggling men round the place where she lay, then she rose up, only to be flung down again immediately. Then a tall, grey-headed man with a silk hat was seen fighting to protect her; but three or four police seized hold of him and bundled him away. Then again, I saw Miss Ada Wright's tall, grey-clad figure, but over and over again she was flung to the ground, how often I cannot say. It was a painful and degrading sight. At last, she was lying against the wall of the House of Lords, close to the Strangers' Entrance, and a number of women, with pale and distressed faces were kneeling down round her. She was in a state of collapse." (20)
Illness and Death
Florence Canning was badly injured at this demonstration that caused her long-term health problems. (21) Florence was elected as Chairman of the Executive of the Church League for Women's Suffrage (CLWS) in early 1912. In May 1912 she wrote an article in the Church League for Women's Suffrage about a project she was in the Church League for Suffrage: "The work of the League has never been brought before the clergy of the Church as a whole. We know that there are many ardent Suffragists amongst the clergy who may not even be aware of the League's existence, for the boycott of the Press, more especially of the Church Press, keeps the general public largely ignorant of our doings, and these are doubtless many others of the clergy who only need to have the matter fairly placed before them to take their stand on the side of justice and progress. We propose, therefore, to give a special character to the June issue of our Monthly Paper, and to send a copy of it to every clergyman in England and Wales. To do this, however, will cost £100. The cost is sure to be repaid many times over." (22)
In December 1912 Florence Canning created controversy by writing a letter to the Evening Standard in defence of the militant tactics used by the WSPU. This resulted in several hostile letters being published in the newspaper. A. P. MacDonald wrote: "The ordinary man stands amazed at the letters written by some women. For instance, what can be more repulsive than the callousness and illogical reasoning of Florence Canning in regard to the smashing of windows, given false fire alarms, spitting in policeman's faces, scratching, biting and kicking, refusal to bear punishment (whilst all the time howling to be treated as men), destruction of cheques, deeds, marriage settlements and legal documents by corrosive acids, and other specimens of feminine atrocities? She styles these unsexed creatures 'zealous' or 'over-zealous'; she has no word of reprobation for them. She stands 'appalled" at the prospect that the skins of these female hooligans shall be made to smart. She was not a word of pity, however, for the male hooligans who - most properly - get birched for breaches of the law not one whit worse than those indulged in by 'the gentler sex'. It would be well if Florence Canning had some of her property destroyed for 'a fellow feeling makes us wonderous kind'." (23)
By 1913 the Church League for Women's Suffrage had 103 branches and 5,080 members. It faced a great deal of hostility from the Church establishment. The Church Times reported a H. W. Hill as saying: "For any sane person the thing is so absolutely grotesque that he must refuse to discuss it. The monstrous regiment of women in politics would be bad enough but the monstrous regiment of priestesses would be a thousandfold worse." (24)
Florence Canning still remained active in the movement and was a member of a deputation to the King George V in May 1914, when she was once again arrested. As a result of her impressive speech on liberty to the magistrate, was discharged." (25) She also worked for the East London Federation Suffragettes, established by Sylvia Pankhurst. (26)
Florence Canning was residing at 23 Lower Rock Gardens in the Kemptown district of Brighton, when she died on 24th December 1914. (27) Her death was certified by Dr Louisa Martindale. Florence's coffin was brought back to Hereford where she was interred with her family at St Paul's Church, Tupsley. Members of the Women's Social and Political Union attended her funeral, and Florence was buried with a wreath in the WSPU colours of purple, white and green on her grave. (28)
Florence left effects valued at £2,190 and her unmarried sister Frances Ethel Canning (1866-1960) was named as executor. (29) In July 1915 The Suffragette reported: "Miss Florence Canning, a devoted and enthusiastic member of the Women's Social and Political Union, whose death is mourned by all her colleagues in the movement, was so thoughtful and generous as to leave by will the sum of £107 12s 7d. to the Union." (30)
The Votes for Women reported in January 1915. "A small committee has been formed, with Miss Gertrude Eaton as Chairman, in order that a fund may be raised from a memorial to perpetuate the name of Florence Canning, in connection with the Woman's Hospital for Children, Harrow Road. The committee consider that a double purpose will be served in honouring one whose life was cut short in the midst of valuable work for the suffrage movement, and in showing appreciation of a hospital funded by Dr. L. Garrett Anderson and Dr. Flora Murray, which is entirely staffed by women." (31)
It was hoped that enough money would be raised to "establish an X-ray apparatus at the well-known Women's Hospital for Children". (32) Two years later it was reported that the fund raised £165 and "it is to be devoted to the equipment of the operating theatre of the Women's Hospital for Children, 688 Harrow Road and a small commemoration tablet will be placed on the wall of the theatre." (33)
Primary Sources
(1) Votes for Women (2nd July 1908)
Mrs Pankhurst put the following resolution: "This meeting calls upon the Government to extend the Parliamentary franchise to those women who possess the qualifications which now entitle men to vote; and the meeting further demands that this reform be effected by means of a separate and distinct measure to be immediately carried into law."
Mrs Pankhurst then read out the following names of those who were to form the deputation. Mrs Pankhurst, Mrs Pethick Lawrence, Miss Clemence Housman, Miss Marie Pethick, Miss Jessie Stephenson, Miss Wallace Dunlop, Miss Phillips, Miss Florence Haig, Miss Joachim, Mrs Gibbons, Miss Gibbons, Miss Lovell, Miss Postlethwaite….
On arriving at the House of Commons, the deputation found a strong body of police waiting for them, headed by Inspector Scantlebury, who said he had instructions to prevent them entering the House of Commons…
By 9.30 some fifteen women had been arrested. Miss Vera Wentworth had been standing up by the railings in Tothill Street, and addressed the crowd, which was very sympathetic, but the police dragged her away from the railings, and took her to Cannon Row…
As the paper goes to press some thirty arrests have been made, including the following: Miss Mary Phillips, Miss Mary Garth, Miss Jessie Kenney, Miss Mary Posthlewaite, Miss Constance Bray, Miss Florence Haig, Miss Cove, Mrs Mosen, Mrs Gibbons, Miss Gibbons, Miss Elsie Howey, Miss Logan, Miss Louise Phillips, Mrs Clarke, Miss O'Mahoney, Dr. Octavia Lewin, Miss Harriet Marshall, Miss Marion Dunlop, Miss Joachim, Miss Florence Lovell, Miss New, Mrs Leigh, Miss Vera Wentworth, Miss Dora Spong, Miss Rachel Townshend and Miss Alice Lea. All are charged with obstruction.
(2) Votes for Women (9th July 1908)
As a consequence of the proceedings of Tuesday, June 30, described in our last issue, twenty-seven of the defendants appeared before Mr Francis at the Westminster Police Court, all charged with obstructing the police in the execution of their duty…
Mary Phillips, 27 said "The Government has forced us to adopt tactics, and the Government is solely responsible."
Florence Lovell, 40, Alice Lea, 45, Mary Clarke, 47, and Stella O'Mahony, 24, were given the option of finding a surety in £20 or going to gaol for a month.
Vera Wentworth, 22, concluded the list having to find two sureties in £25 or suffer three months' imprisonment.
All the defendants refused to find sureties and were committed to prison in default. They were removed shortly after three o'clock, a large crowd cheering the prison van as it drove away.
(3) Church League for Women's Suffrage (1st May 1912)
In the name of the Executive Committee of the Church League I am writing to ask you for your support in an important project. The work of the League has never been brought before the clergy of the Church as a whole. We know that there are many ardent Suffragists amongst the clergy who may not even be aware of the League's existence, for the boycott of the Press, more especially of the Church Press, keeps the general public largely ignorant of our doings, and these are doubtless many others of the clergy who only need to have the matter fairly placed before them to take their stand on the side of justice and progress. We propose, therefore, to give a special character to the June issue of our Monthly Paper, and to send a copy of it to every clergyman in England and Wales. To do this, however, will cost £100. The cost is sure to be repaid many times over.
(4) A. P. MacDonald, Evening Standard (17th December 1912)
The ordinary man stands amazed at the letters written by some women. For instance, what can be more repulsive than the callousness and illogical reasoning of Florence Canning in regard to the smashing of windows, given false fire alarms, spitting in policeman's faces, scratching, biting and kicking, refusal to bear punishment (whilst all the time howling to be treated as men), destruction of cheques, deeds, marriage settlements and legal documents by corrosive acids, and other specimens of feminine atrocities? She styles these unsexed creatures "zealous" or "over-zealous"; she has no word of reprobation for them.
She stands "appalled" at the prospect that the skins of these female hooligans shall be made to smart. She was not a word of pity, however, for the male hooligans who – most properly – get birched for breaches of the law not one whit worse than those indulged in by "the gentler sex". It would be well if Florence Canning had some of her property destroyed for "a fellow feeling makes us wonderous kind."
(5) Votes for Women (1st January 1915)
To many suffrage friends the death of Florence Canning at Brighton on Christmas Eve will bring a sense of irreparable loss.
Full of life and energy, of ardent temperament she possessed a notable gift for making converts. Her untiring and devoted work for the cause and activity in speaking won her audiences all over England, while her rare graces of mind and body brought her innumerable friends.
She laid aside her work as an artist to join the WSPU in 1906, and suffered imprisonment for her principles. From thenceforward she laboured with unceasing courage until last summer, when although fast failing in health, she volunteered for the deputation to the King and was arrested, but owing to her impressive speech on liberty to the magistrate, was discharged. It was her last public act.
As a member of the Church League for Women's Suffrage, and of the Penal Reform League, her interests were broad and varied, and maintained to the last; above all supreme was the passionate love of freedom, the intense spiritual conviction, that made the cause she served with her whole heart the means by which she heard the call to sacrifice, and found "the dying way of life".
(6) Women's Dreadnought (9th January 1915)
We regret to announce that Miss Florence Canning, who was an early member of the WSPU, and often spoke for the ELFS, died on Christmas Eve. To the last she worked devotedly for our cause, and from her bed, shortly before her death, she sold £2 12s. 8d. worth of ELFS toys. ELFS members and friends tender their deep sympathy to her mother and sister in their great loss.
(7) The Suffragette (23rd July 1915)
Miss Florence Canning, a devoted and enthusiastic member of the Women's Social and Political Union, whose death is mourned by all her colleagues in the movement, was so thoughtful and generous as to leave by will the sum of £107 12s 7d. to the Union.
(8) Votes for Women (22nd January 1915)
A small committee has been formed, with Miss Gertrude Eaton as Chairman, in order that a fund may be raised from a memorial to perpetuate the name of Florence Canning, in connection with the Woman's Hospital for Children, Harrow Road.
The committee consider that a double purpose will be served in honouring one whose life was cut short in the midst of valuable work for the suffrage movement, and in showing appreciation of a hospital funded by Dr. L. Garrett Anderson and Dr. Flora Murray, which is entirely staffed by women.
(9) Votes for Women (30th April 1915)
We are asked to draw attention to the Florence Canning Memorial Fund, and we are very glad to do so. This fund is being raised to endow a cot or establish an X-ray apparatus at the well-known Women's Hospital for Children, 688 Harrow Road, founded by Dr. Flora Murray and Dr. L. Garrett Anderson. "No more fitting memorial," says the Committee of the Fund to help progressive work of women doctors in the care of the future generation, an object so dear to the heart of her whom it is desired to honour." Subscriptions should be sent to Mrs Monck-Mason, Hon Treasurer, 93, Oakley Street, Chelsea.
(10) Votes for Women (5th January 1917)
Florence Canning Memorial: The fund amounting to £165, is to be devoted to the equipment of the operating theatre of the Women's Hospital for Children, 688 Harrow Road and a small commemoration tablet will be placed on the wall of the theatre.
(11) Clare Wichbold, Florence Canning (2022)
I became fascinated by the suffrage campaign in 2018, when the country was commemorating the centenary of the Representation of the People Act. 1918 was the first time women got the Parliamentary vote, and there were people across the country who had campaigned to make this happen.
I began uncovering stories about the significance of Hereford to the suffrage campaign when I was working with activity officer Sarah Hollingdale on the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) Eastern Cloisters Project at Hereford Cathedral. Our research led to the NLHF-funded Violet Plaques initiative, highlighting a number of unsung women and men who played a role in bringing about universal suffrage, with temporary plaques around the city of Hereford and information available online and in leaflets.
One of the women was Florence Canning (1863-1914), the daughter of the vicar of Tupsley in Hereford, who went on to become a passionate campaigner for women's franchise. She joined the WSPU, supported many other suffrage organisations, and was a leading member of the Church League for Women's Suffrage. Here is Florence pictured when she was staying with the Blathwayt family who for some years hosted visiting suffragettes at Eagle House in Bath.
Florence died on Christmas Eve 1914 in Brighton, and was buried at St Paul's, Tupsley, with representatives of the WSPU in attendance. More of her story can be found online Florence Canning: Mapping Women's Suffrage and in my book: Hard Work - But Glorious: Stories from the Herefordshire Suffrage Campaign which is available from Ledbury Books and Maps.
Today Florence is a forgotten figure in the suffrage campaign and her grave is a sad reflection of that loss of remembrance. This project is to restore her grave, re-erecting the cross, cleaning the inscription, and getting far more people to know about Florence and her remarkable life.