Rusholme Exhibition Centre destroyed by fire

Rusholme Exhibition Centre, Manchester, destroyed by a fire probably started by Suffragettes, 7 December 1913. The Centre was unoccupied at the time of the arson attack. It was one of several arson incidents in the area carried out by suffragettes to coincide with Prime Minister Asquith's visit to Manchester and Oldham in protest against the arrest of Emmeline Pankhurst. Although the suffragettes did not admit responsibility nearby was found an imprint of a woman's boot, together with some suffrage literature and a note addressed to Asquith saying 'This is your welcome to Manchester & Oldham'.

The building was burned to the ground, as it was built largely from timber, and damage was estimated at £12,000.