Bella was married to boxer (and bank robber, see OldTimeMusicHall) Dick Burge. They took on the lease of the Surrey Chapel, an ex-chapel which had become a boxing ring in 1910. Renamed "The Ring" it became one of the first indoor venues for working class boxing. Bella and her female friends attended the boxing bouts, which was very unusual at that date. Dick died in 1919 and Bella carried on the Ring, expanding into all-in wrestling in 1932. Bombs in 1940 and 1941 destroyed the building and the site was redeveloped, most recently into the Palastra Building. This information all comes from the wonderful Nickel in the Machine, where you will find some fascinating pictures.
This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Bella Burge
Commemorated ati
Other Subjects
W. Bryer & Sons
Gold refiners and assayers who occupied 53 and 54 Barbican. One of the few buildings in the area to survive the incendiary bombing in December 1940, it was demolished in 1962. In 2009 Yellow Page...
1 memorial
Stocks Market
The Stocks Market was where fishmongers and butchers sold their victuals. It took its name from a pair of stocks erected there in 1281 for the punishment of offenders. In 1738 the Mansion House was...
1 memorial
Anglo-Chilean Society
Fromed at the Chilean Embassy at 3 Hamilton Place. In 2008 The British Chilean Chamber of Commerce based in London merged with The Anglo Chilean Society.
1 memorial
1 memorial
Sir Polydore de Keyser
Born Belgium. The family moved to London in 1842 and his father established De Keyser's Royal Hotel on the site of what is now Unilever House. The son joined the business and the hotel became the l...
Person, Commerce, Lord Mayor, Politics & Administration, Belgium
1 memorial