12 Facts About Edith Lanchester

Edith 'Biddy' Lanchester was an English socialist, feminist and suffragette.

Edith Lanchester became well known in 1895 when her family had her incarcerated in an asylum for planning to live with her lover, who was an Irish, working-class labourer.

Edith Lanchester's parents were Henry Jones Lanchester, an established architect, and Octavia Ward.

In 1897 Edith Lanchester became secretary to Eleanor Marx, a feminist and socialist campaigner.

In 1895 Edith Lanchester announced that she intended to live with Sullivan, beginning 26 October 1895, an arrangement which in the phraseology of the day was known as "housekeeping".

Edith Lanchester insisted that marriage was immoral and that she would lose her independence if she married, and was pronounced mad at the scene.

When Edith Lanchester physically tried to resist and fight back, she was handcuffed by her father.

Edith Lanchester was taken by carriage to The Priory Hospital, Roehampton, which was then a private lunatic asylum.

Under Section 11 of the 1890 Lunacy Act, Edith Lanchester could be detained for up to seven days but further incarceration would require another certificate.

Edith Lanchester was examined by the commissioners of lunacy, and found to be sane.

Edith Lanchester was released under Section 75 of the Lunacy Act.

Edith Lanchester continued to attend political meetings as long 'as she was physically active enough to walk to the bus.