“The woman told me to come to Belmont Terrace in Chiswick. She had a house there and I’d be safe. I had no idea where it was or who she was, but I knew I had to get there. My life depended on it.”
Jenny’s heart raced. Every second mattered.
If Lenny came home early, he would surely kill her.
A neighbour, hearing the screams, pressed a few coins into her palm — just enough for a Tube fare. Clutching her two children, wearing only the clothes they stood up in, Jenny fled into the London night.
When she reached 2 Belmont Terrace, the door swung open — and, trembling, she fell inside.
What she didn’t know then was that she had just stepped into history.
🕊️ A Safe Haven in Chiswick
Behind that door stood Erin Pizzey, a woman who refused to look away from the hidden epidemic of domestic abuse. In 1971, she opened her home to women like Jenny, creating Europe’s first refuge for battered women and children— a place of safety, compassion, and understanding.
It wasn’t just a house.
It was the start of a movement.
Within weeks, every room was full — mothers and children sleeping on mattresses, sharing food, stories, and tears.
Here, they were no longer victims.
They were survivors — building each other back up, one day at a time.
đź’› A Spark That Lit a Movement
From that small house in Chiswick grew a national network: Refuge — the charity that still saves lives today. Erin’s vision changed the law, changed attitudes, and gave women a voice when society told them to stay silent.
Belmont Terrace became more than an address — it became a symbol of hope, courage, and community.
⚖️ Why This Story Still Matters
Today, thousands of women still face the same terror Jenny did.
But because one woman opened her door, and another dared to walk through it, help is no longer out of reach.
Every safe house. Every helpline. Every survivor who rebuilds her life — all trace their roots back to that single act of courage on a quiet street in Chiswick.
Share this story.
Let it remind the world that even one open door can change history.
#BelmontTerrace #Refuge #DomesticAbuseAwareness #WomensVoices #ErinPizzey #CourageToLeave #EndDomesticViolence
By Linda C J Turner, Therapist & Advocate
— Linda C J Turner
Trauma Therapist | Neuroscience & Emotional Intelligence Practitioner | Advocate for Women’s Empowerment
©Linda C J Turner
© 2025 Linda Carol Turner. Content protected by copyright.
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