ANYONE taking a cursory glance through historical records and film of the suffragettes in full cry 100 years ago might be forgiven for thinking all the action centred around London – and nearby Epsom where Emily Davison threw herself in the path of the Derby field and was killed.

Not a bit of it.

But how many folk have heard about the suffragettes waking up the whole of Blackburn one Sunday morning in 1914 when they fired a Crimean War cannon at the top of Corporation Park?

The two cannons, donated to the town on the express orders of Queen Victoria, had roared and thundered when the park was opened soon after the Crimean War of 1853-56.

There were fireworks, rockets which launched cascades of coloured fire, and illuminated set pieces.

They hadn’t been fired since then, however, so the women must have spent a lot of time cleaning out one of the heavy barrels which had become choked with stones, gravel and earth over nearly 60 years.

The suffragettes then packed in about one-and-a-half pounds of explosive, lit the charge and, presumably, ran for cover before they were blown to bits.

They left behind a brown paper parcel with a large piece of calico cloth inside. Written in blue pencil were the words: ‘Wake up, Blackburn!

‘The Labour party who claim to stand for Justice and Freedom support a Government that Tortures Women with the Cat and Mouse Act.’ That wasn’t its official title but it made the point.

Hunger-striking suffragettes were sent home to regain their strength – before being rearrested and thrown back into prison.

It ensured that none of them died a martyr. Also in the package was a copy of the newspaper The Suffragette and a book by Christabel Pankhurst, who was Emmeline's daughter.

Houses around the park were reported to have been shaken by the blast and the police and fire departments were inundated with people wanting to know what was going on.

Many people thought there must have been an explosion at Addison Street Gasworks. People who were in the park saw a flash of light and reckoned it was a lightning bolt.

The pair of 24lb cannons – they would have fired a ball of that weight – were captured when Sebastopol fell to the British and French. Hundreds of cannons were taken and many were given to towns and cities throughout Britain.

Corporation Park was inspired by the generosity of public benefactors and was a great success. Crowds flocked there on Sundays and holidays. Blackburn needed another park, though, and when Queen Victoria celebrated her golden jubilee in 1887, Queen’s Park followed.

It’s surprising how many Blackburn folk reckon the guns are still in position at the top of the park on Revidge — but they were taken for scrap early in the Second World War. The battlements are still there and are now home to a panopticon viewing platform.

n The women’s suffrage movement fizzled out with the start of the Great War. Early in 1918, the Representation of the People Act was passed, enfranchising women over the age of 30 who met minimum property qualifications. Morethan eight million women gained the vote.

In November that year, the Eligibility of Women Act was passed, allowing women to be elected into Parliament and the Representation of the People Act 1928 extended the franchise to all women over the age of 21. Women finally got the vote on the same terms as men.