Nine Elms Vauxhall Partnership

Women from Wandsworth and Lambeth were invited to design a banner with artist Ruth Ewan, who has an ongoing interest in histories of activism and in particular drawing attention to lesser-known figures. This banner is a tribute to the incredible life and work of Suffragist, social activist and co-founder of the Women’s Freedom League, Charlotte Despard, a local suffragist and social activist who lived and worked across the area. In the second half of her life Mrs Despard moved to Nine Elms on the south bank of the River Thames in central London, a very deprived area in the late 19th century. Mrs Despard worked tirelessly to improve conditions for local people by setting up free healthcare services, social clubs and becoming a Poor Law Guardian. She continued to fight for the poor and dispossessed for nearly fifty years, right up until her death in 1939, aged 95. The final design, which was fabricated by Laura Lees and Maritza Schepp, drew a lot of its inspiration from the banners of Mary Lowndes, incorporating a rising sun, similar to that used in Lowndes’ ‘Radium’ banner created in commemoration of Marie Curie. The design was paired with Charlotte Despard’s quote ‘Believe in Discontent’ – taking the idea of discontent as a positive force and reflecting Charlotte Despard’s ceaseless work to improve the conditions of those around her in Nine Elms. After PROCESSIONS, the banner was included in a ‘Tea With Charlotte Despard’ event – part of the national ‘EqualiTeas’ programme of events to mark 90 years of universal suffrage. This was organised by members of the Battersea Society and other local women, and attended by the MP for Battersea Marsha de Cordova.

“The banner is a terrific achievement - so simple and yet telling. It certainly summarises all the discussions we had. I do hope it finds a good display home somewhere local to Charlotte.”
Katherine Hallgarten, workshop participant.

“It looked absolutely stunning on the march. I was so proud to have been involved with the project. I hope that Charlotte Despard would have approved of our efforts.”
Maritza Schepp, workshop participant.

The Nine Elms Vauxhall Partnership was created in 2010 to coordinate and drive forward the transformation of an entire district of Central London. Co-chaired by the leaders of Wandsworth and Lambeth Council, it includes the area’s main developers and landowners, the Mayor of London, Transport for London and the Greater London Authority.