Timeline
July 1914
World War I begins. Over the next four years, a huge number of women join the workforce for the first time, filling the gap left by the millions of men enlisted to fight. This exacerbates a shortage of affordable housing suitable for independent working.
February 1918
After a long struggle for women’s suffrage, led by women like Emmeline Pankhurst and Millicent Garret Fawcett, the Representation of the People Act is passed. This gives women over the age of 30 who meet certain property qualifications the right to vote.
November 1918
World War I ends. Four years of devastating trench warfare has resulted in the loss of over 700,000 men. This has a huge impact on women’s lives and prospects. More than 1.5 million of them are now classed as ‘surplus women’ – unmarried women who would have to earn their own income and live independently.
1919
‘Miss Browning conceived the idea of converting large houses, which owing to the cost of upkeep and the difficulty of obtaining servants, there were many to be had at a moderate price, [into] flatlets’ – Dorothy Peel
Having moved from Dublin to sometime after WWI, Anglo-Irish Suffragette Etheldred Browning begins writing articles for suffrage publications, in which she demonstrates a passionate interest in the issue of women’s housing. Etheldred had been an active member of Dublin’s suffrage societies.
August 1920
‘Miss Browning called on me after I got back from [war service in] France. With capital of one or two pounds she had already taken one house and filled it with tenants. I was so keen on the idea I promised I would send her a list of people who I thought would be interested and who had money. She [was] very pleased with the response received.' – Geraldine Lennox
The first meeting to establish Women’s Pioneering Housing takes place on 30th August. Etheldred Browning has been moved to action by the dismal lack of affordable housing for single working women. She gathers a group of similarly determined and pioneering women - many with experience of the fight for women’s suffrage - including Helen Archdale, Florence Lily Carre, Dorothy Peel, and Miriam Homersham. Etheldred begins to collect subscriptions, seek out potential properties, and recruit members to the team.
October 1920
Women’s Pioneer Housing is registered as a Public Utility Society on 4th October. Its mission is to provide housing for women of modest means; the founders agree that its Committee of Management should be made up by a clear majority of women.
January 1921
Helen Archdale becomes Chair of the Committee of Management. Using her organisational experience and wide network of contacts from the suffrage movement, she plays a vital role in fundraising and promoting Women’s Pioneer Housing’s activities. She is also a skilled mediator, who is a key support for Etheldred during the organisation’s sometimes turbulent early history.
February 1921
Women’s Pioneer Housing signs the contract for 67 Holland Park Avenue.
May 1921
In the first half of 1921, Women’s Pioneer Housing faces a severe financial crisis. Following the bank’s refusal to provide a much-needed £2000 overdraft, it becomes clear that the organisation does not have sufficient funds to complete the purchase of 67 Holland Park Avenue.
In May, however, Feminist activist and writer Ray Strachey makes a dramatic intervention and rescues Women’s Pioneer Housing from liquidation.
November 1921
‘A lady much interested in the welfare of professional women is ready to invest £1000 provided she can then nominate four tenants for small flats in Pioneer houses. In this way her £1000 gets a good return and the housing problem is solved for four people in difficult circumstances’ – Etheldred Browning, Time & Tide, 23 April 1926
The first tenants move in to 67 Holland Park Avenue. An opening ceremony is held to mark the occasion, officiated by Lady Gladstone. Miriam Homersham takes on the role of Honorary Accountant.
October 1923
Gertrude Leverkus one of the first women architects to become an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects, is commissioned to undertake property conversions for Women’s Pioneer Housing.
1925
Lady Margaret Rhondda joins the Committee of Management, encouraged by Helen Archdale. Although she only attends four meetings between 1925 and 1929, she is an influential member: her feminist magazine Time and Tide promotes Women’s Pioneer Housing through advertisements and positive articles about it.
1928
The Equal Franchise Act passes through parliament, granting the vote to all women over the age of 21.
June 1928
Winifred Martin joins Women’s Pioneering Housing as accountant. She proves herself to be a skilled and safe pair of hands, who goes on to succeed Etheldred as Secretary and Manager in May 1938.
1930
After ten years in business, Women’s Pioneer Housing owns 39 houses, providing a total of 313 flats.
1930 - 32
Expansion slows as Women’s Pioneer Housing feels the impact of the Great Depression. Company stock-holders are asked to accept a lower rate of return on investments, so that rents can be maintained at an affordable rate.
1931
Lady Shelley Rolls becomes President of Women’s Pioneer Housing. She has been a generous source of financial support through the previous decade, having invested £3650 (nearly £222,500 in 2019 money) into the organisation.
1932
Former suffragette and Women’s and Political Union organiser Geraldine Lennox joins the Committee of Management. In 1920, she had helped Etheldred by supplying a list of names of potential supporters.
1935
WPH’s success means that it’s in a position to purchase three blocks of purpose built flats – Brook House, Nightingale House, and Browning House. These are let out at cheaper, weekly rates, so they are affordable to women in low-paid work, such as waitressing and retail.Timeline description text.
1938
Etheldred retires from Women’s Pioneer Housing. Winifred Martin steps in as Manager and Secretary.
1939
World War II breaks out in September 1939. As a result, Women’s Pioneer Housing’s projects and planned expansions are put on hold.
1945
End of World War II. Large parts of London have been devastated by the German bombing campaign and, as a result, Women’s Pioneer Housing has been left dealing with damaged buildings and empty flats. Consequently, the management is forced to sell some stock. Rent controls impact on the organisation’s ability to raise funds for the restoration of damaged buildings.
1948
‘The price of everything has gone up – rates, coke and lighting. Practically everything in the building line is double if not four times the price before the war…Rationing of hot water and fuel has hit all flats yet some of our tenants, [in] spite of all the restrictions imposed on the country, have never faced up to this fact. They write abusive letters, telephone the secretary with the most appalling complaints and drive office staff mad with their pettifogging complaints, as if it were all the fault of the board’ – Geraldine Lennox, addressing a meeting of tenants.
Rationing and high levels of inflation continued to have a severe impact on the country and, as the above quote from Geraldine Lennox suggests, on life for the staff and tenants of Women’s Pioneer Housing.
1954
The Housing Repairs and Rents Act allows rents to be raised; Women’s Pioneer Housing’s tenants are angry and are lobbied by Communist Party activists.
1970s
Women’s Pioneer Housing Manager and secretary Nona Grosstephan (who joined in 1966) fights off a rogue investors’ asset stripping bid in 1972, Housing associations become eligible for public money to build new homes or refurbish old ones in 1974, allowing Women’s Pioneer Housing to refurbish two properties in Warwick Road.
1980s – 1990s
The 1988 Housing Act shrinks the amount of public grant available to housing associations who now have to borrow money from private sources to fund purchases and refurbishments; this impacts on Women’s Pioneer Housing’s new building plans. In 1997, Women’s Pioneer Housing builds a convent and chapel in Harrow, as part of a deal in return for land to develop 20 new homes.
August 1992
Janet Davies becomes WPH's CEO
2017
Denise Fowler becomes WPH’s CEO
2018
A statue of Millicent Garrett Fawcett is unveiled in London’s Parliament Square. Lady Margaret Rhondda and Ray Strachey – who both made contributions to Women’s Pioneer Housing – feature on the list of 55 names engraved on the plinth.
2020
WPH celebrates its centenary!
There is no let-up in demand from women for homes they can afford that give them dignity and independence – WPH’s mission remains as vital as ever.