Georgina Brackenbury - Artist and Militant Suffragette
Georgina Brackenbury (1865 - 1949) was a direct relation to the current Brackenbury Family of Holme Pierrepont Hall who was an accomplished painter and militant suffragette.
Georgina followed Emmeline Pankhurst's lead in demonstrating for women's rights and was jailed for her militant actions in seeking the right for women to vote. As an accomplished artist, Georgina's painting of Mrs Pankhurst is today exhibited in The National Portrait Gallery in London.
As a close friend of Mrs Pankhurst, Georgina was one of the pall bearers at her funeral in 1928.
Georgina followed Emmeline Pankhurst's lead in demonstrating for women's rights and was jailed for her militant actions in seeking the right for women to vote. As an accomplished artist, Georgina's painting of Mrs Pankhurst is today exhibited in The National Portrait Gallery in London.
As a close friend of Mrs Pankhurst, Georgina was one of the pall bearers at her funeral in 1928.
'The Brackenbury Trio'
Georgina Brackenbury
Self Portrait of Georgina Brackenbury
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Marie Brackenbury
Marie Brackenbury - as painted by her sister Georgina. Marie was also a suffragette.
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Georgina was one of three members of the Brackenbury Family, collectively referred to as 'The Brackenbury Trio', in the commemorative house plaque commissioned by The Suffragette Fellowship on her death in 1949.
Georgina was the 5th daughter of Hilda Brackenbury, who was herself a women's rights activist who was arrested and jailed for breaking windows at a mass demonstration in Whitehall London in 1912, despite being 80 years old.
Georgina's sister, Marie Brackenbury also followed her sister's lead and all three women were members of the Women's Social and Political Union (WPSU) - a radical women's rights group. Both Georgina and Marie agreed with the increasingly militant methods advocated by Christabel Pankhurst.
All three women were sentenced and jailed for their actions in support of the cause.
Georgina was the 5th daughter of Hilda Brackenbury, who was herself a women's rights activist who was arrested and jailed for breaking windows at a mass demonstration in Whitehall London in 1912, despite being 80 years old.
Georgina's sister, Marie Brackenbury also followed her sister's lead and all three women were members of the Women's Social and Political Union (WPSU) - a radical women's rights group. Both Georgina and Marie agreed with the increasingly militant methods advocated by Christabel Pankhurst.
All three women were sentenced and jailed for their actions in support of the cause.
The Infamous 'Pantechnicon Raid'
Georgina and Marie were sentenced to six weeks in prison after they joined a daring WSPU stunt at The House of Commons in London.
This was known as 'The Pantechnicon Raid' when a furniture van was used as a 'trojan horse' to get twenty suffragettes close to the House of Commons and the group tried to rush their way into the lobby of The House.
This was known as 'The Pantechnicon Raid' when a furniture van was used as a 'trojan horse' to get twenty suffragettes close to the House of Commons and the group tried to rush their way into the lobby of The House.
Helping Mrs Emmeline Pankhurst Evade Capture
This wasn't the only occasion when the Brackenbury sisters took direct action.
Family history suggests that The Brackenbury Sisters deliberately diverted the attention of the police, when Mrs Emmeline Pankhurst visited their house. The sisters disguised themselves using Mrs Pankhurst's hat and clothing then sat in the window of their home. In the meantime, Mrs Pankhurst managed to flee the house through the back garden, down a back passageway.
Family history suggests that The Brackenbury Sisters deliberately diverted the attention of the police, when Mrs Emmeline Pankhurst visited their house. The sisters disguised themselves using Mrs Pankhurst's hat and clothing then sat in the window of their home. In the meantime, Mrs Pankhurst managed to flee the house through the back garden, down a back passageway.
Believing in The Right to Vote
The Brackenbury sisters supported the Women's Tax Resistence League, founded in 1909 and one of the most militant of the suffrage groups. This group particularly appealed to middle-class women who resented taxation on their earned income when they had no right to vote.
Many members also boycotted the 1911 Census. including 'The Brackenbury Trio' - Hilda, Georgina and Marie.
Many members also boycotted the 1911 Census. including 'The Brackenbury Trio' - Hilda, Georgina and Marie.
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'Suffragette's Rest'The imprisonment qualified both sisters to have a commemorative tree planted at the 'Suffragette's Rest' in Somerset on 22nd July 1910. The 'Suffragette's Rest' was a nickname for Mary Blathwayt's home at Eagle House and Mary's parents set land aside for a tree for each WSPU member sentenced to prison.
This image shows suffragettes Charlotte Marsh, Laura Ainsworth, Annie Kenney, Mary Blathwayt and Georgina Brackenbury. (Image source: Wikipedia) |
An Accomplished Artist
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Georgina came from an artistic background, with both of her parents having artistic and literary interests.
From 1888 to 1890, she studied at the Slade School of Fine Art in London, where she was a pupil of Hubert von Herkomer. He encouraged her to specialise in portraiture so by 1894, she was producing works such as her portrait of the antiquary, Harold Lee Dillon - seventeenth Viscount Dillon (NPG). Between 1891 and 1907, she exhibited at the Royal Academy and in other London Galleries. Her sister, Marie, was also a Slade student. 
Bust of Georgina Brackenbury
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Self Portrait of Georgina Brackenbury
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Celebrating 100 years of
'The Representation of the People Act 1918'
which gave women the right to vote
Come and see a display of Georgina's paintings on a tour of the Hall and Gardens
See our Garden Opening page for details of opening dates and times
