At the age of 14, Leonora became an apprentice milliner, making hats. She went on to work for a variety of local companies and moved to Bridlington in North Yorkshire.

She married Henry Cohen, who was a watchmaker and jeweller, in 1900.  They had two children, Rosetta who sadly died when she was very young, and Reginald.

Henry was very supportive of Leonora and her views on women's rights, although he did sometimes struggle with how involved she became. Society at that time considered women to be less important than men.

Women were supposed to get married and have children. They had very few rights and were not allowed to own their own property, be properly educated, vote or get a divorce.

Henry had been a member of the Leeds and County Liberal Club where he had to put up with a lot of people having a negative opinion of Leonora. Henry was apparently told by one club member,

“If I had a wife like yours I should tie her to the table leg.”

(Leonora Cohen, 26 Oct 1974 in an interview with Sir Brian Harrison, 8SUF/B/018 Women’s Library LSE).

Henry continued to support Leonora’s campaigning until his death in 1949.