From British History On-line “…. the campaign which culminated in the Old Age Pensions Act of 1908 was begun at a conference held there {Browning Hall - see Robert Browning Settlement} by Charles Booth in 1898.”
The 'National Committee of Organised Labour for Promoting the Old Age Pensions for All' was formed in May 1899, and held meetings in Browning Hall. This campaign was led by Rev. Francis Herbert Stead {brother of W. T. Stead}, warden of the Browning Settlement and Frederick Rogers, its secretary. The first Old Age Pensions were paid in 1909. This one of the social reforms of the Liberal government, 1906–1914, led by Asquith.
