Cosh used by suffragettes

Padded cosh made of wood and leather, used by suffragettes for smashing windows. From November 1911, window smashing became an official policy of the militant Women's Social and Political Union. Attacks on both governmental and commercial buildings over the following months resulted in the arrest of over 200 women, many of whom received sentences of up to two months in Holloway Gaol. The policy was intended to cause such disruption to businesses and shops that the government would be forced to give in to the suffragettes' demands. Unfortunately the policy failed to change the government's position on female suffrage and often alienated public opinion against the Votes for Women cause.