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

Lady Jane Francesca Wilde

Lady Jane Francesca Wilde

Born Dublin. Mother of Oscar Wilde. Poet under the pseudonym ‘Speranza’. Supporter of the Irish nationalist movement and advocate of women’s rights. Died 146 (now 87) Oakley Street.

Person, Gender Issues, Nationalism, Poetry, Ireland

1 memorial
Edith How-Martyn

Edith How-Martyn

Suffragist and birth control campaigner. Born Edith How in London. 1899 married George Herbert Martyn. Member of the Women's Social and Political Union. She was arrested in 1906 for attempting to ...

Person, Gender Issues, Social Welfare, Australia, India

1 memorial
Queer Heritage

Queer Heritage

An appellation used on plaques erected by Sexual Avengers commemorating sites of gay events/interest.

Group, Community / Clubs, Gender Issues

1 memorial
Ada Nield Chew

Ada Nield Chew

Working-class, factory worker, promoter of women’s trade unions. Born on a farm in North Staffordshire as Ada Nield. 1897 married George Chew ​(d.1940) who was also an organiser​ with the Independe...

Person, Gender Issues

1 memorial
Sarah Parker Remond

Sarah Parker Remond

African American abolitionist, lecturer, suffragist, polyglot, UCL & Bedford College graduate.  Sarah Parker Remond was an American lecturer, activist and abolitionist campaigner. Born a free ...

Person, Education, Gender Issues, Race Issues, Italy, USA

1 memorial