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
National Lottery
The National Lottery is the state-franchised national lottery in the United Kingdom. 2020: It is operated by Camelot Group. Some of its funds are distributed by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
1 memorial
Bakers Chop House
A tavern/restaurant at 1 Change Alley. 2019: We were kindly contacted by Raymond Cross who told us that his great great uncle, William Mann Cross ( ? - 1919) was the owner and proprietor of this r...
1 memorial
Frederick Horniman
Tea merchant, benefactor and politician. Born Frederick John Horniman at Bridgwater, Somerset. He inherited his father's tea business, which by 1891 was described as the biggest tea firm in the wor...
Person, Benefactor, Commerce, Museums / Libraries, Politics & Administration, Race Issues, India, Sri Lanka
3 memorials
National Provident Institution
In 1835 two men, who had been successful with the Friends Provident Institution, selling life assurance only to Quakers, formed the less choosy National Provident Institution, opening for business ...
2 memorials
LEO - Lyons Electronic Office
The world's first business computer was built and operated by J. Lyons & Co. The LEO website provides: In October 1947, the directors of J. Lyons & Company, a British catering company famo...
1 memorial
Previously viewed
World War 1
We'd always assumed that this war was known as the Great War until WW2 came along at which point it was renamed as World War One or the First World War. But the term was first used in print in 1920...
402 memorials
Hubert le Sueur
French sculptor who spent most of his working life in England working for the court of Charles I.
1 memorial
Dick Whittington's cat
See Dick Whittington. The picture is the charming logo adopted by the Whittington Hospital on Highgate Hill.
1 memorial
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