WSPU Bazaar, 1911

Women's Social and Political Union Christmas Bazaar and Fair 4-9 December, 1911. For this fund-raising event members of the WSPU transformed the Portman Rooms into an 18th century Village Market Hall with wall murals designed by Sylvia Pankhurst. Stallholders, dressed in 18th century costumes, also designed by Sylvia, sold a range of items from bric-a-brac, to items made by Suffragettes such as blouses and decorated pin cushions to festive fare including turkeys, hams and jams. Entertainments were provided by the Actresses' Franchise League and the Men's Political Union who ran fairground stalls. On the 8th December edition of the Votes for Women newspaper it was noted that the Fair is 'proof positive' that the militant woman can be just as feminine as anybody else'.
An entrance fee charge of 1s in the afternoon and 6d after 6.30pm ensured maximum income from the event that raised a profit of nearly £3000, the most lucrative stalls being the Refreshment stall, that took £300 and the Farm Produce stall that took over £200.
The Portman Rooms in Baker Street were regularly used by the Women's Social and Political Union. They held weekly meetings known as 'At Homes' there from 1907 until they moved to the larger Queen's Hall in the later summer of 1908.