The following list of suffragette bombings is a list of

bombings A bomb is an explosive weapon that uses the exothermic reaction of an explosive material to provide an extremely sudden and violent release of energy. Detonations inflict damage principally through ground- and atmosphere-transmitted mechanica ...

carried out by the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) in the

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was a sovereign state in the British Isles that existed between 1801 and 1922, when it included all of Ireland. It was established by the Acts of Union 1800, which merged the Kingdom of Great B ...

during the suffragette bombing and arson campaign of 1912–1914.

1912

*19 July 1912: Several bombs are set off at the

Theatre Royal, Dublin Over the centuries, there have been five theatres in Dublin called the Theatre Royal. In the history of the theatre in Great Britain and Ireland, the designation "Theatre Royal", or "Royal Theatre", once meant that a theatre had been granted a r ...

, and the theatre itself is set on fire using

petrol Gasoline (; ) or petrol (; ) (see ) is a transparent, petroleum-derived flammable liquid that is used primarily as a fuel in most spark-ignited internal combustion engines (also known as petrol engines). It consists mostly of organic co ...

, during a performance attended by the

Prime Minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is not ...

H. H. Asquith Herbert Henry Asquith, 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith, (12 September 1852 – 15 February 1928), generally known as H. H. Asquith, was a British statesman and Liberal Party politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom f ...

. Four suffragettes are subsequently charged with offences likely to endanger life. *19 July 1912: A powerful bomb is planted in

Home Secretary The secretary of state for the Home Department, otherwise known as the home secretary, is a senior minister of the Crown in the Government of the United Kingdom. The home secretary leads the Home Office, and is responsible for all national ...

Reginald McKenna Reginald McKenna (6 July 1863 – 6 September 1943) was a British banker and Liberal politician. His first Cabinet post under Henry Campbell-Bannerman was as President of the Board of Education, after which he served as First Lord of the Admiral ...

's office but is discovered. *28 November to 3 December 1912: As part of a 5-day long nationwide

pillar box A pillar box is a type of free-standing post box. They are found in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories, and, less commonly, in many members of the Commonwealth of Nations such as Cyprus, India, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Malta, New Ze ...

sabotage campaign, a number of letter bombs are sent by suffragettes, many of which burst into flames at

post office A post office is a public facility and a retailer that provides mail services, such as accepting letters and parcels, providing post office boxes, and selling postage stamps, packaging, and stationery. Post offices may offer additional serv ...

s around the country.

1913

*29 January 1913: A number of letter bombs are sent to

Chancellor Chancellor ( la, cancellarius) is a title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the of Roman courts of justice—ushers, who sat at the or lattice work screens of a basilica or law cou ...

David Lloyd George David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor, (17 January 1863 – 26 March 1945) was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1916 to 1922. He was a Liberal Party politician from Wales, known for leading the United Kingdom during t ...

and Prime Minister Asquith, but they all explode or are discovered while in transit. More are sent over the following weeks. *6 February 1913: 5

Dundee Dundee (; sco, Dundee; gd, Dùn Dè or ) is Scotland's fourth-largest city and the 51st-most-populous built-up area in the United Kingdom. The mid-year population estimate for 2016 was , giving Dundee a population density of 2,478/km2 or ...

postmen are burned, four severely, when handling a suffragette letter bomb addressed to Asquith. *19 February 1913: Suffragettes bomb Chancellor

's house, with two bombs being planted by

Emily Davison Emily Wilding Davison (11 October 1872 – 8 June 1913) was an English suffragette who fought for Women's suffrage in the United Kingdom, votes for women in Britain in the early twentieth century. A member of the Women's Social and Polit ...

. Only one bomb functions but significant damage is done to the building, although there are no injuries. *22 February 1913: A postman is burned at

Lewisham Lewisham () is an area of southeast London, England, south of Charing Cross. It is the principal area of the London Borough of Lewisham, and was within the Historic counties of England, historic county of Kent until 1889. It is identified i ...

post office, South London, when handling a suffragette letter bomb. *3 April 1913: A bomb explodes next to a train line in

Stockport Stockport is a town and borough in Greater Manchester, England, south-east of Manchester, south-west of Ashton-under-Lyne and north of Macclesfield. The River Goyt and Tame merge to create the River Mersey here. Most of the town is within ...

, on the outskirts of

Manchester Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The t ...

, while a passenger train is passing. The explosion nearly kills the driver when his head is grazed by flying debris. *4 April 1913: A sophisticated bomb explodes in the

lavatory Lavatory, Lav, or Lavvy may refer to: *Toilet, the plumbing fixture *Toilet (room), containing a toilet *Public toilet *Aircraft lavatory, the public toilet on an aircraft *Latrine, a rudimentary toilet *A lavatorium, the washing facility in a mon ...

Oxted railway station Oxted railway station is on the Oxted line in southern England, serving the commuter town of Oxted, Surrey. It is from . The station is managed by Southern who operate the majority of train services with a few peak services operated by Thames ...

Surrey Surrey () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South East England, bordering Greater London to the south west. Surrey has a large rural area, and several significant urban areas which form part of the Greater London Built-up Area. ...

. The clockwork mechanism and battery are recovered. *4 April 1913: A bomb is discovered emitting smoke in the busy street outside the

Bank of England The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom and the model on which most modern central banks have been based. Established in 1694 to act as the English Government's banker, and still one of the bankers for the Government of ...

and quickly defused. Had it exploded, it likely would have caused casualties in what was then one of the busiest streets in the capital. *8 April 1913: Bomb explodes in the grounds of

Dudley Castle Dudley Castle is a ruined fortification in the town of Dudley, West Midlands, England. Originally a wooden motte and bailey castle built soon after the Norman Conquest, it was rebuilt as a stone fortification during the twelfth century but subs ...

. *8 April 1913: Two bombs are planted in passenger carriages on the Waterloo to Kingston train line. One bomb is discovered early, but the other explodes as the train from Waterloo arrives at Kingston, causing a fire. The rest of the carriages are full of passengers, but they manage to escape. *17 April 1913: Bomb discovered at

Aberdeen railway station , symbol_location = gb , symbol = rail , image = Aberdeen station 01, August 2013.JPG , caption = Concourse at Aberdeen station (2013) , borough = Aberdeen, City of Aberdeen , country = Scotland , coordinates = , grid_name = Grid refe ...

, with a

gunpowder Gunpowder, also commonly known as black powder to distinguish it from modern smokeless powder, is the earliest known chemical explosive. It consists of a mixture of sulfur, carbon (in the form of charcoal) and potassium nitrate (saltpeter). ...

charge. A railway porter defused the bomb. *18 April 1913: A plot to blow up the

grandstand A grandstand is a normally permanent structure for seating spectators. This includes both auto racing and horse racing. The grandstand is in essence like a single section of a stadium, but differs from a stadium in that it does not wrap a ...

Crystal Palace Crystal Palace may refer to: Places Canada * Crystal Palace Complex (Dieppe), a former amusement park now a shopping complex in Dieppe, New Brunswick * Crystal Palace Barracks, London, Ontario * Crystal Palace (Montreal), an exhibition building ...

football ground on the eve of the

1913 FA Cup Final The 1913 FA Cup Final was contested by Aston Villa and Sunderland on 19 April 1913 at London's Crystal Palace. Playing as the home side, Aston Villa won 1–0 on a goal by Tommy Barber on a crossed ball from Charlie Wallace. Wallace had ear ...

is foiled. *20 April 1913: Attempt to bomb the offices of the ''York Herald'' newspaper in

York York is a cathedral city with Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. It is the historic county town of Yorkshire. The city has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a ...

. *23 April 1913: Bomb explodes at the

Free Trade Hall The Free Trade Hall on Peter Street, Manchester, England, was constructed in 1853–56 on St Peter's Fields, the site of the Peterloo Massacre. It is now a Radisson hotel. The hall was built to commemorate the repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846. T ...

. *24 April 1913: Bomb explodes at the

Crown Court The Crown Court is the court of first instance of England and Wales responsible for hearing all Indictable offence, indictable offences, some Hybrid offence, either way offences and appeals lied to it by the Magistrates' court, magistrates' court ...

Newcastle Newcastle usually refers to: *Newcastle upon Tyne, a city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England *Newcastle-under-Lyme, a town in Staffordshire, England *Newcastle, New South Wales, a metropolitan area in Australia, named after Newcastle ...

. The device was a long

pipe bomb A pipe bomb is an improvised explosive device which uses a tightly sealed section of pipe (material), pipe filled with an explosive material. The containment provided by the pipe means that simple Explosive material#Low explosives, low explosi ...

. Seconds before the explosion a caretaker had discovered a note that stated "Beware dangerous bomb – run for your life". At that point the bomb exploded nearby, causing considerable damage. *April 1913: Bomb discovered in the Lyceum Theatre in

Taunton Taunton () is the county town of Somerset, England, with a 2011 population of 69,570. Its thousand-year history includes a 10th-century monastic foundation, Taunton Castle, which later became a priory. The Normans built a castle owned by the ...

, bearing slogans such as "Judges beware", "Martyrs of the law" and "Release our sisters". *April 1913: A bomb is discovered at

Smeaton's Tower Smeaton's Tower is a memorial to civil engineer John Smeaton, designer of the third and most notable Eddystone Lighthouse. A major step forward in lighthouse design, Smeaton's structure was in use from 1759 to 1877, until erosion of the ledge it ...

, an old

lighthouse A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of physical structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses and to serve as a beacon for navigational aid, for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways. Lighthouses mar ...

Plymouth Hoe Plymouth Hoe, referred to locally as the Hoe, is a large south-facing open public space in the English coastal city of Plymouth. The Hoe is adjacent to and above the low limestone cliffs that form the seafront and it commands views of Plymouth ...

, painted with the words "Votes For Women. Death In Ten Minutes". *2 May 1913: A highly dangerous and unstable

nitroglycerine Nitroglycerin (NG), (alternative spelling of nitroglycerine) also known as trinitroglycerin (TNG), nitro, glyceryl trinitrate (GTN), or 1,2,3-trinitroxypropane, is a dense, colorless, oily, explosive liquid most commonly produced by nitrating ...

bomb is discovered on the busy platform of

Piccadilly Circus tube station Piccadilly Circus is a London Underground station located directly beneath Piccadilly Circus itself, with entrances at every corner. Located in Travel-card Zone 1, the station is on the Piccadilly line between Green Park and Leicester Squa ...

. Although it had the potential to harm many on the platform, the bomb is dealt with. *5 May 1913: Gunpowder and nitroglycerine parcel bomb discovered at Borough Market Post office, London. *6 May 1913: Bomb placed on the steps of the Grand Hotel in

Northumberland Avenue Northumberland Avenue is a street in the City of Westminster, Central London, running from Trafalgar Square in the west to the Thames Embankment in the east. The road was built on the site of Northumberland House, the London home of the House ...

Charing Cross Charing Cross ( ) is a junction in Westminster, London, England, where six routes meet. Clockwise from north these are: the east side of Trafalgar Square leading to St Martin's Place and then Charing Cross Road; the Strand leading to the City; ...

, London by Ada Ward. A policeman who observed her place the bomb defused it and arrested Ward. *7 May 1913: The cricket pavilion at

Bishops Park Bishops Park is a park in Fulham, West London. The park was opened by the London County Council in 1893, on land given by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. It is listed Grade II on the register of parks and gardens of special historic interest ...

Fulham Fulham () is an area of the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham in West London, England, southwest of Charing Cross. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, bordering Hammersmith, Kensington and Chelsea. The area faces Wandsworth ...

burns down after the explosion of an incendiary device. *7 May 1913: An incendiary device sets fire to a woodyard in

Lambeth Lambeth () is a district in South London, England, in the London Borough of Lambeth, historically in the County of Surrey. It is situated south of Charing Cross. The population of the London Borough of Lambeth was 303,086 in 2011. The area expe ...

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

. *7 May 1913: A house in

Hendon Hendon is an urban area in the Borough of Barnet, North-West London northwest of Charing Cross. Hendon was an ancient manor and parish in the county of Middlesex and a former borough, the Municipal Borough of Hendon; it has been part of Great ...

, London is set on fire after an explosion of an incendiary device. There are no injuries. *8 May 1913: A sophisticated

potassium nitrate Potassium nitrate is a chemical compound with the chemical formula . This alkali metal nitrate salt is also known as Indian saltpetre (large deposits of which were historically mined in India). It is an ionic salt of potassium ions K+ and nitrat ...

bomb is discovered at the start of a sermon at

St Paul's Cathedral St Paul's Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in London and is the seat of the Bishop of London. The cathedral serves as the mother church of the Diocese of London. It is on Ludgate Hill at the highest point of the City of London and is a Grad ...

, London. The device was packed with nuts and bolts to act as shrapnel. *10 May 1913: A bomb is discovered in the waiting room at

Liverpool Street Station Liverpool Street station, also known as London Liverpool Street, is a central London railway terminus and connected London Underground station in the north-eastern corner of the City of London, in the ward of Bishopsgate Without. It is the t ...

, London, made out of iron nuts and bolts intended to maximise damage to property and cause serious injury to anyone in proximity. *10 May 1913: A bomb is planted at the

Cambridge University , mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts. Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge. , established = , other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...

football ground pavilion. *10 May 1913: A bomb is planted at the busy Empire Theatre, Dublin. A woman discovered the bomb, made from 24 cartridges of gunpowder, with the fuse burning in the ladies lavatory. She picked up the device and plunged it into water in a sink, extinguishing the fuse. *10 May 1913: A parcel bomb is discovered at

Reading Reading is the process of taking in the sense or meaning of Letter (alphabet), letters, symbols, etc., especially by Visual perception, sight or Somatosensory system, touch. For educators and researchers, reading is a multifaceted process invo ...

Post Office, addressed to the municipal office in the town. The parcel had been found ticking and a postal device connected to a timer was recovered. The explosive charge consisted of gunpowder and nitroglycerine. *12 May 1913: A bomb is planted at the

Oxted Oxted is a town and civil parish in the Tandridge district of Surrey, England, at the foot of the North Downs. It is south south-east of Croydon in Greater London, west of Sevenoaks in Kent, and north of East Grinstead in West Sussex. Oxte ...

Badminton Badminton is a racquet sport played using racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net. Although it may be played with larger teams, the most common forms of the game are "singles" (with one player per side) and "doubles" (with two players pe ...

and

Lawn Tennis Tennis is a racket sport that is played either individually against a single opponent (singles) or between two teams of two players each ( doubles). Each player uses a tennis racket that is strung with cord to strike a hollow rubber ball cove ...

Club. The caretaker discovers the bomb when he hears ticking upon opening in the morning. The device was a time bomb made out of nitroglycerine. *14 May 1913: Three nitroglycerine bombs are discovered in a carriage of a crowded passenger train arriving from Waterloo at Kingston. *14 May 1913: A letter bomb is sent to allegedly anti-women's suffrage

magistrate The term magistrate is used in a variety of systems of governments and laws to refer to a civilian officer who administers the law. In ancient Rome, a '' magistratus'' was one of the highest ranking government officers, and possessed both judici ...

Sir

Henry Curtis-Bennett Sir Henry Honywood Curtis-Bennett, KC (31 July 1879 – 2 November 1936) was an English barrister and Conservative Party politician. As a barrister, he led the defence in the 1922 cases of Herbert Rowse Armstrong and of Edith Thompson and Frede ...

Bow Street Bow Street is a thoroughfare in Covent Garden, Westminster, London. It connects Long Acre, Russell Street and Wellington Street, and is part of a route from St Giles to Waterloo Bridge. The street was developed in 1633 by Francis Russell, 4 ...

in an attempt to

assassinate Assassination is the murder of a prominent or important person, such as a head of state, head of government, politician, world leader, member of a royal family or CEO. The murder of a celebrity, activist, or artist, though they may not have a ...

him, but the bomb is intercepted by London postal workers. *15 May 1913: A small bomb is planted outside the

National Gallery The National Gallery is an art museum in Trafalgar Square in the City of Westminster, in Central London, England. Founded in 1824, it houses a collection of over 2,300 paintings dating from the mid-13th century to 1900. The current Director o ...

Trafalgar Square Trafalgar Square ( ) is a public square in the City of Westminster, Central London, laid out in the early 19th century around the area formerly known as Charing Cross. At its centre is a high column bearing a statue of Admiral Nelson commemo ...

, London, but fails to explode. *16 May 1913: A bomb is discovered at

Westbourne Park tube station Westbourne Park is a London Underground station in the Notting Hill area of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is on the Circle and Hammersmith and City lines, between Ladbroke Grove and Royal Oak stations, and is in Travelcard ...

before it can explode. *16 May 1913: Bomb planted in a

library A library is a collection of materials, books or media that are accessible for use and not just for display purposes. A library provides physical (hard copies) or digital access (soft copies) materials, and may be a physical location or a vir ...

in South London. *16 May 1913: Bomb planted in a church in

Hastings Hastings () is a large seaside town and borough in East Sussex on the south coast of England, east to the county town of Lewes and south east of London. The town gives its name to the Battle of Hastings, which took place to the north-west ...

. *16 May 1913: Bomb planted in a

hotel A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. Facilities provided inside a hotel room may range from a modest-quality mattress in a small room to large suites with bigger, higher-quality beds, a dresser, a ref ...

in Brentwood. *17 May 1913: A bomb, containing 12lb of gunpowder, is planted in St Mary's Church in

Dalkeith Dalkeith ( ; gd, Dail Cheith, IPA: �t̪alˈçe is a town in Midlothian, Scotland, on the River Esk. It was granted a burgh of barony in 1401 and a burgh of regality in 1540. The settlement of Dalkeith grew southwestwards from its 12th-cent ...

Park,

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...

, but fails to explode. *21 May 1913: A bomb explodes at the Royal Observatory in

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...

, causing serious damage. *27 May 1913: A bomb is thrown from an express train onto

Reading station Reading railway station is a major transport hub in Reading, Berkshire, England. It is on the northern edge of the town centre, near the main retail and commercial areas and the River Thames, from . Reading is the ninth-busiest station in th ...

platform and explodes, but there are no injuries. *May 1913: Bomb found in a

billiard room A billiard room (also billiards room, or more specifically pool room, snooker room) is a recreation room, such as in a house or recreation center, with a billiards, pool or snooker table. (The term "billiard room" or "pool room" may also be us ...

at a Dundee sports venue. *2 June 1913: Letter bomb discovered at the South Eastern District Post Office, London, containing enough nitroglycerine to blow up the entire building and kill the 200 people who worked there. *11 June 1913: A bomb exploded at the Post Office in

Newcastle upon Tyne Newcastle upon Tyne ( RP: , ), or simply Newcastle, is a city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England. The city is located on the River Tyne's northern bank and forms the largest part of the Tyneside built-up area. Newcastle is ...

. *15 June 1913: A bomb is discovered at

Eden Park railway station Eden Park railway station serves Eden Park, London, Eden Park in the London Borough of Bromley in south east London, in Travelcard Zone 5. It is therefore possible to use an Oyster card at the station. It is down the line from . The station and ...

Beckenham Beckenham () is a town in Greater London, England, within the London Borough of Bromley, in Greater London. Until 1965 it was part of the historic county of Kent. It is located south-east of Charing Cross, situated north of Elmers End and E ...

. It was determined that the clockwork timer had failed to function. *17 June 1913: A bomb is thrown from

Blackfriars Bridge Blackfriars Bridge is a road and foot traffic bridge over the River Thames in London, between Waterloo Bridge and Blackfriars Railway Bridge, carrying the A201 road. The north end is in the City of London near the Inns of Court and Temple Chu ...

, London. It exploded as it hit the water of the

River Thames The River Thames ( ), known alternatively in parts as the The Isis, River Isis, is a river that flows through southern England including London. At , it is the longest river entirely in England and the Longest rivers of the United Kingdom, se ...

. The railway bridge was shaken by the explosion and railway workers rushed to the scene to check that no damage had been done to the bridge. *18 June 1913: A bomb explodes on the

Stratford-upon-Avon Canal The Stratford-upon-Avon Canal is a canal in the south Midlands of England. The canal, which was built between 1793 and 1816, runs for in total, and consists of two sections. The dividing line is at Kingswood Junction, which gives access to the ...

Yardley Wood Yardley may refer to: People Surname * Bruce Yardley (1947–2019), Australian cricketer * David Yardley (1929–2014), British legal scholar and public servant * Doyle Yardley (1913–1946), American military officer *Eric Yardley (born 1990), A ...

Birmingham Birmingham ( ) is a city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1.145 million in the city proper, 2.92 million in the West ...

, causing serious damage to the canal but failing to burst its banks. Since there was no

lock Lock(s) may refer to: Common meanings *Lock and key, a mechanical device used to secure items of importance *Lock (water navigation), a device for boats to transit between different levels of water, as in a canal Arts and entertainment * ''Lock ...

for 11 miles, a breech would have emptied all of this section's water into the populated valley below. *5 July 1913: A bomb explodes at the

Liverpool Cotton Exchange Building Liverpool Cotton Exchange Building is an office block in Old Hall Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, England. The commercial building, which originally had a Neoclassical façade, replaced the 19th-century cotton exchange in Exchange Flags in 19 ...

Edith Rigby Edith Rigby ( Rayner) (18 October 1872 – 23 July 1950) was an English suffragette who used arson as a way to further the cause of women’s suffrage. She founded a night school in Preston called St Peter's School, aimed at educating women an ...

is arrested and reveals she planted it "to show how easy it was to get explosives and put them in public places". *7 July 1913: A bomb is planted on the Brock Aqueduct in

, but is discovered by an inspector before it can explode. The destruction of the aqueduct could have had very serious consequences. *7 July 1913:

claimed to have set fire to the bungalow of Sir William Lever, Bt (later Lord Leverhulme) at

Rivington Rivington is a village and civil parish of the Borough of Chorley, Lancashire, England, occupying . It is about southeast of Chorley and about northwest of Bolton. Rivington is a rural area consisting primarily of agricultural grazing land, ...

, although it is suspected her confession was false. The property contained valuable paintings and the fire resulted in damage costing £20,000. *8 July 1913: Device explodes on a train carriage in

Newton Heath Newton Heath is an area of Manchester, England, north-east of Manchester city centre and with a population of 9,883. Historically part of Lancashire, Newton was formerly a farming area, but adopted the factory system following the Industrial Re ...

. *8 July 1913: A bomb is placed on the parcel counter at the main post office at

Blackburn Blackburn () is an industrial town and the administrative centre of the Blackburn with Darwen borough in Lancashire, England. The town is north of the West Pennine Moors on the southern edge of the Ribble Valley, east of Preston and north-n ...

but is discovered before it can explode.''Manchester Guardian'', 10 July 1913, p. 7 *19 July 1913: A bomb is discovered at Haslemere station. *July 1913: Bomb planted at a

railway station by Lillias Mitchell and

Mary Richardson Mary Raleigh Richardson (1882/3 – 7 November 1961) was a Canadian suffragette active in the women's suffrage movement in the United Kingdom, an arsonist, a socialist parliamentary candidate and later head of the women's section of the B ...

. *July 1913: Margaret Mackworth places an explosive substance containing

phosphorus Phosphorus is a chemical element with the symbol P and atomic number 15. Elemental phosphorus exists in two major forms, white phosphorus and red phosphorus, but because it is highly reactive, phosphorus is never found as a free element on Ear ...

and another more dangerous chemical in a post office letter box in

Caerleon Caerleon (; cy, Caerllion) is a town and community in Newport, Wales. Situated on the River Usk, it lies northeast of Newport city centre, and southeast of Cwmbran. Caerleon is of archaeological importance, being the site of a notable Roman ...

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...

, causing it to burst into flames. Upon observing this, passers-by restrain Mackworth and she is arrested. *8 August 1913: A

school A school is an educational institution designed to provide learning spaces and learning environments for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is sometimes compuls ...

is bombed and subsequently burns down in Sutton-in-Ashfield while David Lloyd George is visiting the town. *1 September 1913: A bomb is found in Cheltenham Town Hall. *11 November 1913: Large explosion of a

at a building in

Alexandra Park, Manchester Alexandra Park is a park in Manchester, England, designed by Alexander Gordon Hennell, and opened to the public in 1870. The lodge and gateways are the work of Alfred Darbyshire. The park was developed by Manchester Corporation before the area w ...

, which is being used as a

cactus A cactus (, or less commonly, cactus) is a member of the plant family Cactaceae, a family comprising about 127 genera with some 1750 known species of the order Caryophyllales. The word ''cactus'' derives, through Latin, from the Ancient Greek ...

house. *15 November 1913: The Palm House in

Sefton Park Sefton Park is a public park in south Liverpool, England. The park is in a district of the same name, located roughly within the historic bounds of the large area of Toxteth Park. Neighbouring districts include modern-day Toxteth, Aigburth, ...

Liverpool Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the 10th largest English district by population and its metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a popul ...

is subjected to a bomb attack. *18 December 1913: A wall at

Holloway Prison HM Prison Holloway was a closed category prison for adult women and young offenders in Holloway, London, England, operated by His Majesty's Prison Service. It was the largest women's prison in western Europe, until its closure in 2016. Hist ...

is bombed. Many houses near the prison are damaged and have their windows blown out, showering some children with glass while they slept. One of the perpetrators of the attack is injured. *22 December 1913: Several postal workers are burned after letter bombs cause mail bags to ignite in

Nottingham Nottingham ( , East Midlands English, locally ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area in Nottinghamshire, East Midlands, England. It is located north-west of London, south-east ...

1914

*6 January 1914: A highly powerful bomb explodes at an electricity generating station in Crown Point,

Leeds Leeds () is a city and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds district in West Yorkshire, England. It is built around the River Aire and is in the eastern foothills of the Pennines. It is also the third-largest settlement (by populati ...

, damaging the facility. *7 January 1914: A

dynamite Dynamite is an explosive made of nitroglycerin, sorbents (such as powdered shells or clay), and Stabilizer (chemistry), stabilizers. It was invented by the Swedish people, Swedish chemist and engineer Alfred Nobel in Geesthacht, Northern Germa ...

bomb is thrown over the wall of the Harewood Barracks in Leeds, which is being used to train police officers. The explosion injures one man. *9 January 1914: A bomb is found in

Stratford, London Stratford is a town in east London, England, within the ceremonial county of Greater London. Until 1965 it was within the historic county of Essex. Part of the Lower Lea Valley, Stratford is situated 6 miles (10 km) east-northeast of Chari ...

. *24 January 1914: Two devices are planted at the Kibble Palace botanic gardens in Glasgow. One bomb was defused by a watchman, but the other then exploded behind him, nearly killing him and shattering the glass conservatory. *12 February 1914: A bomb explodes at a house in Moor Hall Green, Birmingham. The property was the home of Arthur Chamberlain, brother of politician

Joseph Chamberlain Joseph Chamberlain (8 July 1836 – 2 July 1914) was a British statesman who was first a radical Liberal, then a Liberal Unionist after opposing home rule for Ireland, and eventually served as a leading imperialist in coalition with the Cons ...

. *1 March 1914: A bomb explodes at St. John the Evangelist's church in

Smith Square Smith Square is a square in Westminster, London, 250 metres south-southwest of the Palace of Westminster. Most of its garden interior is filled by St John's, Smith Square, a Baroque surplus church, which has inside converted to a concert hall ...

Westminster Westminster is an area of Central London, part of the wider City of Westminster. The area, which extends from the River Thames to Oxford Street, has many visitor attractions and historic landmarks, including the Palace of Westminster, Bu ...

. *3 April 1914: Three small devices explode at Belmont Church,

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...

. *5 April 1914: A bomb explodes in

St Martin-in-the-Fields St Martin-in-the-Fields is a Church of England parish church at the north-east corner of Trafalgar Square in the City of Westminster, London. It is dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours. There has been a church on the site since at least the mediev ...

church in

, London, blowing out the windows and showering passers-by with broken glass. The explosion also starts a fire in the church. *17 April 1914: The

Britannia Pier Britannia Pier is a pier located at the seaside town of Great Yarmouth in the English county of Norfolk. History Planning and construction A new pier in Great Yarmouth was first proposed in 1856 with building work commencing in September 1857 w ...

Great Yarmouth Great Yarmouth (), often called Yarmouth, is a seaside town and unparished area in, and the main administrative centre of, the Borough of Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, England; it straddles the River Yare and is located east of Norwich. A pop ...

is destroyed after being bombed and burned down. *3 May 1914: A bomb is found at

Dewsbury Dewsbury is a minster and market town in the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees in West Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Calder and on an arm of the Calder and Hebble Navigation waterway. It is to the west of Wakefield, east of Hudder ...

reservoir. *7 May 1914: An attempt to flood a populated area fails after a bomb is placed next to

Penistone Penistone ( ) is a market town and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England, which had a population of 22,909 at the 2011 census. Historically in the West Riding of Yorkshire, it is west of Barnsley, n ...

Reservoir in Upper Windleden. If successful, the attack would have led to of water emptying into the populated valleys below. *10 May 1914: A bomb is discovered at the

Metropolitan Tabernacle The Metropolitan Tabernacle is a large independent Reformed Baptist church in the Elephant and Castle in London. It was the largest non-conformist church of its day in 1861. The Tabernacle Fellowship have been worshipping together since 1650. ...

church and defused. *22 May 1914: Explosion at the Free Church in

. *22 May 1914: Two large explosive devices are discovered buried beside a

Aqueduct by a patrol set up to check for bombs on railway lines and other public places. The bombs had been planted in an attempt to cut off the water supply to the city, but they had failed to explode. *23 May 1914: Bomb found at Glasgow Water Works. *28 May 1914: Bomb found on a goods train at

Wellingborough Wellingborough ( ) is a large market and commuter town in the unitary authority area of North Northamptonshire in the ceremonial county of Northamptonshire, England, 65 miles from London and from Northampton on the north side of the River Nen ...

. *5 June 1914: Bomb found in a

castle A castle is a type of fortified structure built during the Middle Ages predominantly by the nobility or royalty and by military orders. Scholars debate the scope of the word ''castle'', but usually consider it to be the private fortified r ...

near

. *5 June 1914: A bomb explodes loudly at the

All Saints' Church All Saints Church, or All Saints' Church or variations on the name may refer to: Albania *All Saints' Church, Himarë Australia * All Saints Church, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory * All Saints Anglican Church, Henley Brook, Western Aust ...

in the village of

Breadsall Breadsall is a village and civil parish in the English county of Derbyshire, . The population of the civil parish at the 2011 census was 773. Breadsall Priory is nearby. History Breadsall was mentioned in the Domesday Book as belonging to Henry ...

Derbyshire Derbyshire ( ) is a ceremonial county in the East Midlands, England. It includes much of the Peak District National Park, the southern end of the Pennine range of hills and part of the National Forest. It borders Greater Manchester to the nor ...

, causing it to burn down, despite attempts by villagers to extinguish the fire. *11 June 1914: A bomb explodes at

Westminster Abbey Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is an historic, mainly Gothic church in the City of Westminster, London, England, just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is one of the United ...

, damaging the

Coronation Chair The Coronation Chair, known historically as St Edward's Chair or King Edward's Chair, is an ancient wooden chair on which British monarchs sit when they are invested with regalia and crowned at their coronations. It was commissioned in 1296 by ...

and breaking the historic

Stone of Scone The Stone of Scone (; gd, An Lia Fàil; sco, Stane o Scuin)—also known as the Stone of Destiny, and often referred to in England as The Coronation Stone—is an oblong block of red sandstone that has been used for centuries in the coronati ...

in half. Nuts and bolts had acted as shrapnel. There were about 80 to 100 people in the Abbey at the time, with some being less than away, but there were no injures. The explosion caused a panic for the exits, and many from the

House of Commons The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of parliament. ...

(which at the time was debating the best way of dealing with the violent methods of the suffragettes) came rushing to the scene. *13 June 1914: A second bomb is discovered before it can explode in

. *13 June 1914: Bomb found in a church at

Aston-on-Trent Aston-on-Trent is a village and civil parish in the South Derbyshire district, in the county of Derbyshire, England. The parish had a population of 1,682 at the 2011 Census. It is adjacent to Weston-on-Trent and near Chellaston, very close to th ...

. *15 June 1914: Bomb explodes at St George's church in

Hanover Square, Westminster Hanover Square is a green square in Mayfair, Westminster, south west of Oxford Circus where Oxford Street meets Regent Street. Six streets converge on the square which include Harewood Place with links to Oxford Street, Princes Street, Hanover S ...

, London. *16 June 1914: A suffragette is arrested in possession of a bomb at a

horse show A horse show is a judged exhibition of horses and ponies. Many different horse breeds and equestrian disciplines hold competitions worldwide, from local to the international levels. Most horse shows run from one to three days, sometimes longer fo ...

Olympia, London Olympia London, sometimes referred to as the Olympia Exhibition Centre, is an exhibition centre, event space and conference centre in West Kensington, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, London, England. A range of international ...

. *8 July 1914: Two bombs are found at the cottage of Scottish historical figure

Robert Burns Robert Burns (25 January 175921 July 1796), also known familiarly as Rabbie Burns, was a Scottish poet and lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland and is celebrated worldwide. He is the best known of the poets who hav ...

. The nightwatchman inside the cottage had heard a noise and discovered two women outside placing large explosives outside the building, which likely would have killed him and others inside had they exploded. The man successfully detained one of the women. *11 July 1914: A bomb explodes at Roslyn Chapel. *11 July 1914: A guard is severely burned when a letter bomb ignites a carriage on a moving train in

Salwick Salwick is a village between Kirkham and Preston in Lancashire, England. The village is largely rural and is an extension of the smaller Clifton to the south. It is in the borough of Fylde, and in the Parliamentary Constituency of Fylde, and ...

. The guard is badly burned on his arms as he throws the burning letter bomb off the train to avoid further damage. *12 July 1914: An attempted second bombing of St John the Evangelist church in

, London by

Annie Kenney Ann "Annie" Kenney (13 September 1879 – 9 July 1953) was an English working-class suffragette and socialist feminist who became a leading figure in the Women's Social and Political Union. She co-founded its first branch in London with Minnie ...

fails after she was noticed behaving strangely during a sermon and then found to have placed a bomb underneath a

pew A pew () is a long bench (furniture), bench seat or enclosed box, used for seating Member (local church), members of a Church (congregation), congregation or choir in a Church (building), church, synagogue or sometimes a courtroom. Overview ...

by members of the congregation. Kenney, who was already being trailed by

Special Branch Special Branch is a label customarily used to identify units responsible for matters of national security and Intelligence (information gathering), intelligence in Policing in the United Kingdom, British, Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth, ...

detectives A detective is an investigator, usually a member of a law enforcement agency. They often collect information to solve crimes by talking to witnesses and informants, collecting physical evidence, or searching records in databases. This leads the ...

, was arrested as she left, and the congregation was able to disarm the device before it exploded. *1 August 1914: A bomb explodes outside Christ Church Cathedral in

Lisburn Lisburn (; ) is a city in Northern Ireland. It is southwest of Belfast city centre, on the River Lagan, which forms the boundary between County Antrim and County Down. First laid out in the 17th century by English and Welsh settlers, with ...

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

References

Bibliography

* * * * * * * * * * * * *{{Cite book, last=Webb, first=Simon, url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w2RtBQAAQBAJ, title=The Suffragette Bombers: Britain's Forgotten Terrorists, date=2014-07-02, publisher=Pen and Sword, isbn=978-1-78340-064-5, language=en Explosions in the United Kingdom 1910s in England 1913 crimes in the United Kingdom Explosions in 1913 Explosions in 1914 20th century in England 1912 in England 1913 in England 1914 in England Improvised explosive device bombings in London Improvised explosive device bombings in England Building bombings in the United Kingdom Explosions in London Explosions in England Terrorist incidents on railway systems in the United Kingdom Terrorist incidents in England Terrorist incidents in London Terrorism in the United Kingdom Women's suffrage in the United Kingdom Emmeline Pankhurst Terrorist incidents in the 1910s Improvised explosive device bombings in the 1910s

1912

1913

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See also

References

Bibliography