Charlotte Despard: Mother of Battersea, suffragette, and socialist rebel

Days before her 89th birthday in 1933, Charlotte Despard stood in Trafalgar Square, bent with old age and shaking her fist, as she made the case for anti-fascist mobilisation.

Her speech was one of many she had made across four decades in support of socialist, feminist, anti-imperialist and Irish republican causes.

Known as “The Mother of Battersea” and one of Nine Elms’ most esteemed historical figures, Ms Despard was a pioneering leader of social activism and humanitarian efforts.

Yesterday, a commemorative plaque was unveiled in her honour at Embassy Gardens, Nine Elms, by Mary McAleese, the former President of Ireland.

Born in 1844, Ms Despard moved to London from Edinburgh as a child.

In 1865 she married Maximilian Carden Despard, an Anglo-Irish businessman and banker who was heavily involved in the early days of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation – now known as HSBC.

When her husband died in 1890, Ms Despard dedicated the rest of her life to helping the poor. 

From her home at 2 Currie Street in Nine Elms, between 1890 and 1922 – where Embassy Gardens stands today –  she provided welfare facilities for the community, many of whom were Irish.

Her home doubled as a youth club for local boys, a nursery for small children, a welfare clinic and soup kitchen. It was open and active seven days a week.

Despite her brother, John French, being a high ranking British army officer – at one point Chief of the Imperialist General Staff – during the Irish War of Independence, Ms Despard supported Sinn Fein.

She spent a great deal of time in Ireland and in 1908 joined Hanna Sheehy Skeffington to form the Irish Women’s Franchise League.

Throughout the Irish War of Independence, together with Irish republican revolutionary, suffragette and actress, Maud Gonne, Ms Despard collected first-hand evidence of army and police atrocities in Cork and Kerry. 

The two women also formed the Women’s Prisoners’ Defence League to support republican prisoners and in 1921, Ms Despard shared a house with Ms Gonne in Dublin.

She died in Belfast, aged 95.

Donated by the founder of property developer Ballymore, founder Sean Mulryan, the new plaque was unveiled at a public ceremony at Embassy Gardens.

Mary McAleese, who served as the eighth President of Ireland from 1997 – 2011, unveiled the plaque alongside Mr Mulryan, following a reading of ‘What has Mrs Despard ever done for us?’ by poet Hilaire, and music performances from award-winning music charity World Heart Beat. 

Speaking at the event, Ms McAleese said: “We all owe Charlotte Despard, and it is so important that her name is known, not for its own sake but for the sake of all she championed and all that still remains undone.  

“She led by example – a formidable, challenging example. 

“I hope today is a call to action that she would be proud of, and I am very grateful for being allowed to be part of this event, grateful to those who have made it happen and to those who will make it their business to finish what she started.”

Speeches were also given by Jeanne Rathbone, of the Battersea Society, and Despard’s biographer Margaret Mulvihill.

The unveiling ceremony was attended by Irish Ambassador to the UK, Mr Martin Fraser, as well as Lady Lucy French OBE, Despard’s great-niece, broadcaster Ryan Tubridy and Mayor of Wandsworth Councillor Sana Jafri.

Pictured top: Charlotte Despard speaks to a crowd in Trafalgar Square in 1933 (Picture: PA)