Women's Festival of Cycling Suffragettes in Surrey Ride

UPDATED 3 JULY 2018

A mainly off-road but not too technical ride to commemorate the Suffragette movement in Surrey and to celebrate Cycling UK's Women's Festival of Cycling. Many of the suffragettes enjoyed cycling, which enabled them to experience greater freedom of movement through less restrictive clothing, as well as being able to travel independently and play a wider role in society. Thus the best way to remember their incredible achievements is with a bike ride!

Starting from Cycling UK's national office in Guildford, the town where the first Suffrage meeting in 1871 reputedly took place, before riding over to Peaslake, home now to many roadies and mountain bikers who enjoy refreshments at the village stores and pub every week, but in times gone by a haven for women fighting for equal rights who spent time recovering from their struggles (including forcible feeding) at a house called Brackenside. 

After refreshments, we'll continue across the hills to Holmbury and Coldharbour and then to S. Holmwood to see the Dutch House, former home of Emmeline and Frederick Pethick-Lawrence, key figures in the campaign. There will be a plaque unveiled at 4pm to celebrate their connection to the suffrage movement. 

From there, it's a few miles by road to Dorking and a choice of trains home or for those who want to continue, a ride back along NCN22 via Abinger, where Baroness Wootton of Abinger lived - she became the first ever female peer in the House of Lords.

Exact route tbc but reasonable level of fitness and suitable bike and equipment, including snacks, water and protective layers required. There may an option to take the train to Dorking and return off-road if you don't want to do the whole ride. 

Please let me know if you would like to attend. Note this route may vary according to conditions but we will definitely be attending the plaque unveiling in S. Holmwood.

For further information on the women's movement in Surrey, see 

Suffragettes, Suffragists & Antis: the fight for the vote in the Surrey Hills Paperback – 17 Nov 2017

by Kathy Atherton (Author)