A HUNGER strike medal awarded to a suffragette has fetched £13,400 at auction in Stroud.
The medal was given to Frances Outerbridge after she endured “the last extremity of hunger and hardship” while fighting to win equal voting rights for women.
Stroud Auction Rooms recently received the medal which was engraved with Ms Outerbridge's name and the date March 1, 1912 – the date of an organised window-smashing campaign.
The accompanying case featured the inscription: "Presented to Frances Outerbridge by the Women’s Social & Political Union in recognition of a gallant action, whereby through endurance to the last extremity of hunger and hardship, a great principle of political justice was vindicated".
The name Frances Outerbridge does not appear in any Suffragette records, but it is believed she used her mother’s maiden name Williams when she was arrested.
The name Frances Williams comes up in press cuttings about a window smashing on March 1, 1912. Frances was understood to have been imprisoned following the incident, and then went on hunger strike.
Frances' medal was expected to sell for between £2,000-£5,000 at the Toys, Vinyl Records, Musical Instruments, Asian and Tribal Art, Picture Books, Ephemera and Stamps auction at Stroud Auction Rooms, January 12th-13th, but went on to make £13,400.
Photos by Paul Nicholls.
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