Suffragette Singh

Suffragette Princess Sophia Duleep Singh lived here

Location: 37 Hampton Court Road, Hampton Court

Description: Princess Sophia Duleep Singh (18761948) was a suffragette, Red Cross nurse, and vocal critic of British rule in India. At her father's request, Queen Victoria became her godmother.

On the 8th May 1895, Sophia and her sisters were formally presented at court and Queen Victoria agreed they would be princesses.

In 1896 Sophia, Bamba and Catherine were granted use of a grace and favour apartment here in Hampton Court a large house named Faraday House for their lifetimes. Here is Faraday House, where she lived for over five decades.

Sophia took part in the suffrage march with Emmeline Pankhurst to Parliament on the 18th November 1910 to protest against the decision to allow no more time for the suffrage bill. Sophia was arrested but charges were soon dropped.

In December 1913, she appeared at Feltham police court once more for refusing to pay the same taxes if women had no vote.

The advent of the First World War led the WSPU to cease campaigning and in 1915 Sophia volunteered as a Red Cross nurse, looking after wounded Indian soldiers.

The house derives its name from another famous resident the scientist Michael Faraday, who is commemorated there by a rectangular stone plaque.