This pack looks at the story of the suffragettes, as depicted in the Dearsley Windows - contemporary stained glass windows in St Stephen’s Hall, in the Palace of Westminster. Baroness Massey explains their significance in the film above.
The Dearsley Windows
Watch the film of Baroness Massey with your class as she talks about the windows, her favourite artwork in Parliament. The film is also available on YouTube. Watch here
Introductory information about the work is given below. You can also download teachers' notes for full details about the Dearsley Windows and suggested classroom activities for students aged 7-11.
About
A lady called Mrs Dearsley made a bequest to the Palace of Westminster in her will and specified that the money should be used for maintaining the building. The decision was made to use the money to replace missing windows in St Stephen’s Hall.
After a competition in 1997 the House of Lords Works of Art Committee selected a design by stained glass artist Shona McInnes.
The new windows were completed and installed in January 2002.
The artist
Shona McInnes studied stained glass design at Glasgow School of Art in the 1980s. After working for two years as a designer and college lecturer she set up the ‘Leadline Studio’ in Aberdeenshire where she has practiced stained glass work for over twenty years.
She specialises in site-specific architectural glass for a variety of buildings including churches, historical buildings and public buildings such as hospitals.
The story
Before 1918 only men were allowed to vote in parliamentary elections. In the early 20th century the suffragettes were campaigning for women's suffrage, or right to vote.
The window depicts a timeline of significant dates in the campaign for votes for women.