THIS week in Down Memory Lane I link a sale poster from Joyes, the once-popular Grays department store in New Road, with the Suffragette movement.

The first women’s suffrage committee was formed in Manchester in 1867 and by 1887 the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) had been born.

The Joyes 1908 summer sale poster features a lady proclaiming ‘votes for women’ at Joyes the draper, the people’s choice.

She then exclaims: “You will not get your rights until you have visited Joyes’ sale”.

Suffragettes suffered in order to gain women the most basic of human rights, the right to have your voice heard, the right to decide what happens to yourself and your country.

Women protesting for their rights were soon being arrested.

Although the WSPU began in large cities their cause soon spread and groups began appearing nationally and there was at least one in Thurrock, this was based in Stanford-le-Hope and was organised by a local shopkeeper.

Emily Elizabeth James (nee Matthews) was born in Marylebone in 1870 and wasarried to Edward James, a bricklayer from St Pancras.

They had three children, William (b.1893), Rose (b.1894) and Helen (b.1898.) and lived at 1 Ruskin Road, Stanford-le-Hope.

Mrs James’ involvement with the WSPU included being the local secretary.

She also kept lists of member’s names – this includes Violet Bland.

On March 4, 1912 Violet was arrested after she smashed a window in Northumberland Avenue in protest against the latest rejection of the Equal Rights Bill.

Down Memory Lane is written by Thurrock Comminuty Historian JONATHAN CATTON, Thurrock Heritage and Museum Office.

Memories, photographs or objects relating to Thurrock’s past will be gratefully received for the Thurrock Museum collections.

Contact by letter at Thurrock Museum, Thameside Complex, Orsett Road, Grays, RM17 5DX, or email jon.catton@gmail.com