1-192-498 - © London Museum/Heritage-Images

Three suffragettes prepare to chain themselves to the railings, 1909. Vera Holme, the WSPU chauffeur, is on the right. Padlocking themselves to the railings of important Government buildings afforded the suffragettes the opportunity of making lengthy political speeches. The women had as long as it took the police to cut them out of their padlocks and chains. Otherwise they would have been arrested immediatley and bundled to the nearest police station.