Event    From 2/7/1888  To 16/7/1888

Matchgirls' strike

A strike of the women and teenage girls working at the Bryant and May Factory. Annie Besant had published an article about the poor working conditions at the factory, 'White Slavery in London'. This angered the management who tried to get the workers to formally refute the article. When they refused the management sacked one of them and the strike was on. They held meetings at Christ Church Hall and were supported by Eleanor Marx, Annie Besant and members of the Fabian Society including Shaw and Sidney Webb.

Diamond Geezer has a much fuller account.

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Matchgirls' strike

Commemorated ati

Annie Besant - E3

This plaque was lost sometime July 2021 - August 2022. 

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Bowler plaque - Match Girls

The plaque punningly represents "match girls" - very nice. Hanbury Hall is wh...

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Fairfield Works

This plaque was lost sometime July 2021 - August 2022.

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Hanbury Hall - blue oval plaque

This plaque has a shortened version of the text on the old white plaque.

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Hanbury Hall - white plaque - removed

Christ Church Hall Built in 1719 as a French Hugeonot {sic} church it stood b...

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Other Subjects

Rev. Claude Hinscliff

Rev. Claude Hinscliff

Member of Men’s League for Women’s Suffrage, founded the Church League for Women’s Suffrage in 1909 with his wife Gertrude. He officiated at Emily Wilding Davison’s funeral. Later he worked in Serb...

Person, Gender Issues, Religion, Romania, Serbia

1 memorial
Henrietta Franklin

Henrietta Franklin

Education reformer and leader of Jewish League for Woman Suffrage. She championed the Parents' National Educational Union and the ideas of Charlotte Mason. Born as Henrietta Montagu in London into...

Person, Education, Gender Issues

1 memorial
Women's work in WW2

Women's work in WW2

The vital work done by over seven million women during World War II.

Group, Gender Issues

1 memorial
Women's Freedom League

Women's Freedom League

Split off from the Women's Social and Political Union where Emmeline Pankhurst held sway. Worked for equality between men and women. Dissolved in 1961.

Group, Gender Issues

1 memorial
Gay Liberation Front

Gay Liberation Front

By 1973, GLF had effectively dissipated and had given way to its spin-off organisations.

Group, Gender Issues

2 memorials