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.

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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

Fairfield Works Fairfield Road. The scene of the match girls strike of 1888. ...

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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

Leonard Montefiore

Leonard Montefiore

Author and philanthropist. Leonard Abraham Montefiore was born Kensington.  Grand nephew to Moses.  Was a friend of Oscar Wilde when they were both at Oxford University.  Chief assistant to Samuel ...

Person, Gender Issues, Philanthropy, USA

1 memorial
Esther Roper

Esther Roper

Esther Roper was an English suffragist and social justice campaigner who fought for equal employment and voting rights for working-class women. Lifelong partner of Eva Gore-Booth. The photo shows ...

Person, Gender Issues

1 memorial
Bedford College for Women, University of London

Bedford College for Women, University of London

Founded by Elizabeth Jesser Reid as the Ladies College, the first higher education college for women.  In 1900 it became part of the University of London and in 1913 moved to larger purpose built p...

Group, Education, Gender Issues

2 memorials
Mary Lowndes

Mary Lowndes

Artist, suffragette and founder of Artist Suffrage League in 1909. Born Dorset. Trained in stained-glass work. Lived and worked in Chelsea. The photo shows Lowndes in 1890.

Person, Art, Craft / Design, Gender Issues

1 memorial
Hertha Ayrton

Hertha Ayrton

Electrical engineer and suffragist.  Born Phoebe Sarah Marks in Portsmouth.  Aged 16 began teaching in London.  Studied maths at Girton College Cambridge.  Married William Ayrton in 1885.  Elected ...

Person, Gender Issues, Science

1 memorial