Hanbury Hall, National Trust

Jim and I went to Hanbury Hall, National Trust to see what was included in their Women and Power exhibition, for the 100th anniversary of selective female suffrage.

In the first room there was a sign :

Women and Power.  Women make up over 50% of the population but are less than 0.5% of recorded history.  Women who are working class are a tiny proportion of that 0.5%.

I wondered whether this was an accurate statistic, and have emailed to see where it comes from.  They may answer on Monday.  Also, what inspired them to put this sign in the first room visitors entered?  Is this because NT staff often get men asking 'when are you going to do an exhibition about men?' because the dominant subject does not realise nearly everything is about them.  History is nearly always focussing on men .... up till now?

Hand stitched gloves and stretcher.

Hogarth was related by marriage to the family of Hanbury Hall, and his Harlot's Progress was on display.  I was familiar with the Rake's Progress,  but not of the Harlot's Progress.  Apparently the Harlot's progress was the first that Hogarth produced, but the Rake's Progress is more popular.  Is the Harlot's progress deemed less worthy as a story, or less appropriate because it demeans women?

I had an interesting conversation with the steward about the role of the WI.  One of the ladies of the Hall was a leading light in the WI, and participated in much of their campaigning.  I queried why their campaigning for the compulsory wearing of crash helmets by motor cyclists was not on the list.  Mind you, they have campaigned on so many worthy campaigns, it might not have fitted on their list!