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

Emily Davies

Emily Davies

Suffragist and promoter of higher education for women. Born Sarah Emily Davies in Southampton. She edited a feminist publication and became active on the London School Board. She was instrumental i...

Person, Education, Gender Issues

1 memorial
Isabella Ford

Isabella Ford

Isabella Ormston Ford was a social reformer, suffragist and writer. She became a public speaker and wrote pamphlets on issues related to socialism, feminism and worker's rights. After becoming conc...

Person, Gender Issues

1 memorial
Eva Gore-Booth

Eva Gore-Booth

Poet and dramatist, and a committed suffragist, social worker and labour activist. Born as Eva Selina Laura Gore-Booth in County Sligo, the younger sister of Constance Gore-Booth, who was later kn...

Person, Gender Issues, Poetry, Ireland

1 memorial
Flora Drummond

Flora Drummond

Suffragette. Nicknamed 'The General' for her habit of leading Women's Rights marches wearing a military style uniform 'with an officers cap and epaulettes' and riding on a large horse. Drummond was...

Person, Gender Issues, Scotland

1 memorial