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

Blue Plaque Rebellion

Blue Plaque Rebellion

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Group, Gender Issues, Sport / Games

1 memorial
OutRage!

OutRage!

From the picture source website: "OutRage! is the world's longest surviving queer rights direct action group. Our witty, imaginative, daring, and irreverent style of non-violent civil disobedience...

Group, Gender Issues

1 memorial
Catherine Marshall

Catherine Marshall

Catherine Elizabeth Marshall was a suffragist and campaigner against conscription during WW1. She moved her interests from women's votes to peace and worked in Geneva supporting the League of Natio...

Person, Gender Issues, Peace

1 memorial
Mark Ashton

Mark Ashton

Irish political, community and gay rights activist. Born Oldham but grew up in Northern Ireland. With his friend Mike Jackson he formed and raised funds for the Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners...

Person, Community / Clubs, Gender Issues, Politics & Administration, Social Welfare, Ireland

1 memorial
Helen Blackburn

Helen Blackburn

Early campaigner for women’s rights, particularly the rights of workers. An editor of the Englishwoman's Review. Born County Kerry, Ireland.

Person, Gender Issues, Ireland

1 memorial