2018 marks 100 years since women over the age of 30 finally got the right to vote.
This momentous shift in power
owed much to the braveness of a pioneering group of women
known as the Suffragettes.
The Suffragettes fought tirelessly for women's rights in the early 20th century and they used direct action.
So they went on hunger strike, they chained themselves to railings, they damaged public property
all in the name of equal opportunities for women.
One of the most important figureheads was Emmeline Pankhurst.
Along with her daughters Christabel and Sylvia, she gave new impetus to the women's movement in the United kingdom.
In 1903, Emmeline and Christabel founded the Women's Social and Political Union, called the WSPU -
a militant wing of the suffrage movement.
Its motto was 'deeds not words'.
Emmeline and Christabel lived here at 50 Clarendon Road from 1916 to 1919,
and in 2006 English Heritage commemorated the part they played in the women's movement with this Blue Plaque.
The fact that Emmeline and her daughters were prepared to endure imprisonment, undoubtedly raised the profile of their cause.
In 1912, the police raided the WSPU headquarters and Emmeline and other suffragettes were charged with conspiracy.
Emmeline was sentenced to 3 years in prison.
She and other suffragettes went on hunger strike in protest,
which took a real toll on their health.
They were temporarily released to recover, but they were then repeatedly re-arrested and released
as a result of legislation known as the Cat and Mouse Act.
In total Emmeline served more than 30 days in prison
and the ordeal clearly had a profound impact on her.
Emmeline's other daughter Sylvia, was also heavily involved in the suffrage movement.
Sylvia lived here at 120 Cheyne Walk from 1906 to 1909
she was an impoverish art student and only occupied a couple of cramped rooms in the house.
But it was from here that she developed what we'd think of today as the brand for the suffragettes.
She designed posters, badges and banners all in the suffragette colours of green, white and purple.
When the First World War broke out in 1914, Emmeline and Christabel suspended all suffragette activities.
Emmeline focused her efforts on the care of war babies: illegitimate children, fathered by men before they went to war.
Emmeline even adopted four of the war babies, to live with her at 50 Clarendon Road.
Eveline Bennett pictured here in 2006, was the last surviving of the Pankhurst war babies.
When Emmeline moved here in the middle of the First World War, her days of direct action were over
and for her it was the first time she'd had a proper home for nearly a decade,
she really enjoyed finally having a home to call her own, she was very happy here.
Christabel also lived here intermittently between 1917 and 1919
before Emmeline left the UK to start a new life in Canada.
Standing here as a woman who's able to vote, and earn my living,
I'm very mindful of the huge contribution that the Pankhursts made to the lives of women.
And I hope that people walking past this house, will look at the plaque and remember that.