Tessa Boase will present her new book on Margaretta Lemon, a past resident of Blackheath, entitled Mrs Pankhurst's Purple Feather - Fashion, Fury and Feminism - Women's Fight for Change. 

Margaretta Lemon, felt passionately about the cruel Victorian fashion for plumage, wings and whole dead birds on ladies’ hats. She could often be heard on a Sunday lecturing local ladies on their ‘murderous millinery’ as they made their way to All Saints church. While in her twenties she helped found the RSPB, and was soon running the Society and pushing for anti plumage legislation. She did not, however, believe in Votes for Women – and Mrs Pankhurst's appetite for plumed hats enraged her further still. 

The evening will be held in the Bakehouse Theatre, Bennett Park, and begins at 7pm with a welcoming drink followed by the talk at 7.30. Questions and book signing will follow. Tickets are £10.00 available from www.Eventbrite.com where you should search Fashion, Fury and Feminism

AFTER THE EVENT we said.....

An excellent evening at The Bakehouse Theatre.  Tessa explained how she came to research this unusual lady from Blackheath and the writing of her book.  It is a remarkable story of how a group of women began the protection of the birds that fashion was pursuing to their extension. Etta Lemon did not join The Suffragette Movement but used their tactics of marches with banners and pictures among the shoppers of Regent Street to prick the conscious of the bird hatted women!  In 1904 legislation began to be put in place. 

Tessa's book looks like a jolly good read with many illustrations and photos. The local bookshop was there for the evening and has it in stock.

We note the fight to protect birds and their feathers against the fashion continues today ..

https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2018/may/21/the-ethics-of-wearing-feathers-its-not-just-live-plucking-thats-a-problem