His studio in Kingston House became a meeting point for gay men, some of them servicemen. Image - Eagle House, credit Robert Howes Kingston House, Pierrepont Streetĭuring the Second World War, theatre photographer Angus McBean (1904-1990) moved to Bath to escape the London Blitz. We shall never know for sure, but it is clear that the suffragettes formed close bonds with each other during their struggle for votes for women.
Historians are divided as to whether this should be taken literally or whether the suffragettes were engaging in lesbian relations, as was suggested by enemies at the time. His daughter, Mary Blathwayt, also a suffragette, recorded in her diary that Annie Kenney (1879-1953), one of the few working-class suffragettes, shared beds and slept with various women. Image - Beckford's Tower Eagle House, Batheastonįrom 1909 to 1912, Colonel Blathwayt turned Eagle House into a refuge for suffragettes who had been imprisoned and force-fed to allow them to rest and recuperate. His grave lies in the grounds of Beckford’s Tower, the retreat he constructed on Lansdown.
He spent his last 22 years as a recluse in Bath, living at 20 Lansdown Crescent and 1 Lansdown Place West. It is unclear exactly what happened but Beckford was ostracised by society and went into self-imposed exile on the Continent, helping later to put Portugal on the tourist map. William Beckford (1760-1844), one of the richest men in England due to his family’s connection with slavery, was involved in the Powderham Castle scandal in 1784, when he was reported to have been found in compromising circumstances with the younger William “Kitty” Courtenay. This guest article by local historian and Gay West member Robert Howes is a great introduction to the people and places connected to the city’s LGBTQ+ past – from the eighteenth century to the present day.įind more ways to mark LGBT+ History Month in Bath here.
It’s the perfect time to reflect on the stories and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people here in Bath. February is LGBT+ History Month, a chance to shine a spotlight on the achievements and experiences of the community as well as promote diversity and equality.