Mural

Poplar Rate Rebels mural - 1

Erection date: 1990

Inscription

George Lansbury & the Poplar Rate Rebels

{On the white notice:}
Reynolds News
Prop. G. Lansbury
Special Edition
Massive crowds pack Town Hall into Woodstock Terrace as 30 Socialist Councillors refuse to cut benefits & equal pay!

{On placards:}
Can’t pay – won’t pay

{On white notice behind mayor's head:}
Poplar Borough Council marching to the High Court and to Prison, 1921.

Jailed for supporting the people!

{3 placards held by a group of people at the right end are all illegible except:}
This mural painted by Mark Frances

The yellow banner carries 26 names. See Subjects commemorated.}

The mural refers to "30 councillors" but actually names only 29.  The count of 30 is confirmed elsewhere and at Island History we we found a partial list of the names which had one that we did not find on the mural: Sue Lawrence.

Site: Poplar Rate Rebels mural (4 memorials)

E14, Hale Street, Tower Hamlets Parks Department depot

From the absolutely excellent London Mural Preservation Society: "Originally painted by Mark Frances, the mural features four panels telling the story of the Rates Rebellion, mostly in words. It depicts George Lansbury and local residents holding 'Can't Pay Won't Pay' placards, in reference to the anti-Poll Tax campaign of the early 1990s, contemporaneous to when the mural was first completed. Names of the imprisoned Councillors feature along the bottom.  The mural was restored in 2007 by David Bratby and Maureen Delenian with help from local children."

September 2021: Diamond Geezer reported that the mural "has been given a repaint to celebrate the centenary".

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Poplar Rate Rebels mural - 1

Subjects commemorated i

Old Poplar Town Hall

At Poplar High Street, Woodstock Terrace corner. Listed Grade 2, architects: ...

Read More

Poplar Rates Rebellion

Tax protest led by George Lansbury supported by the councillors of Poplar Bor...

Read More

Poplar Borough Council

In 1855, Poplar joined with neighbouring Bromley and Bow to form the Poplar D...

Read More

Reynolds News

Radical newspaper founded by George W. M. Reynolds.  Influenced the young Geo...

Read More

Dave Adams

Poplar councillor imprisoned during the 1921 rates protest.

Read More

Show all 34

This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Poplar Rate Rebels mural - 1

Created by i

Mark Frances

Mural painter active in 1990 in Poplar.

Read More

This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
Poplar Rate Rebels mural - 1

Also at this site i

Poplar Rate Rebels mural - 2

Poplar Rate Rebels mural - 2

See 'Poplar Rate Rebels mural - 1' for all the text and names associated with...

Read More

Poplar Rate Rebels mural - 3

Poplar Rate Rebels mural - 3

See 'Poplar Rate Rebels mural - 1' for all the text and names associated with...

Read More

Poplar Rate Rebels mural - 4

Poplar Rate Rebels mural - 4

See 'Poplar Rate Rebels mural - 1' for all the text and names associated with...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

Mosaic House, front - Herman Wallace

Mosaic House, front - Herman Wallace

W4, Fairlawn Grove, 4-6

This house is/was the home of artist Carrie Reichardt. Across the top of the first floor bay window: "I'm an artist, your rules don't app...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Cable Street mural - Mosley

Cable Street mural - Mosley

E1, Cable Street, St George's Town Hall, east wall

There must be a story to explain why Mosley is shown in his underwear, but we don't know it. See our main Cable Street mural page for de...

2 subjects commemorated
Treatment Rooms 2 - John F. Kennedy

Treatment Rooms 2 - John F. Kennedy

W5, 199 Acton Lane

There is/was an American Graffiti Preservation Society but it seems to be defunct.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
St Mary's trompe l'oeil - Hamilton

St Mary's trompe l'oeil - Hamilton

W2, St Mary's Square, Blossom Lower School

Emma lived in Greville's house on Paddington Green and it was here she met her future husband, Hamilton.

1 subject commemorated
Charles Darwin mural

Charles Darwin mural

BR1, Market Square, 20 - 25

This mural replaced the one featuring H. G. Wells. Darwin is shown sitting at the foot of a tree which contains illustrations of various ...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator