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

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
Sylvia Pankhurst

Sylvia Pankhurst

Born in Manchester as Estelle Sylvia, daughter of Emmeline Pankhurst.  Trained and initially worked as an artist. Worked with George Lansbury in the East End. 1924 Sylvia moved from the East End of...

Person, Gender Issues, Peace, Seriously Famous, Ethiopia

9 memorials
Ray Strachey

Ray Strachey

Feminist, Liberal politician, mathematician, engineer, artist and writer. NUWSS, unsuccessfully stood for Parliament. Born as Rachel Pearsall Conn Costelloe. 1911 she married civil servant Oliver ...

Person, Gender Issues, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Elizabeth Jesser Reid

Elizabeth Jesser Reid

Founder of Bedford College, anti-slavery activist and philanthropist.

Person, Education, Gender Issues, Philanthropy, Race Issues

1 memorial
Charlotte Despard

Charlotte Despard

Anglo-Irish suffragist, socialist, pacifist, Sinn Féin activist, and novelist. She was a founding member of the Women's Freedom League, Women's Peace Crusade, and the Irish Women's Franchise League...

Person, Gender Issues, Ireland, Scotland

1 memorial

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Sir Laurence Gomme

Sir Laurence Gomme

NW1, Dorset Square, 24

English Heritage Sir Laurence Gomme, 1853 - 1916, clerk to the London County Council, folklorist and historian, lived here, 1895 - 1909.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Heals - south

Heals - south

W1, Tottenham Court Road, Heals

This plaque is on the last but one southern pier of the southern building. 

6 subjects commemorated
Pepys and Navy Office

Pepys and Navy Office

EC3, Seeting Lane

This plaque is attached to a stone hidden in the bushes. But helpfully the man in the red t-shirt and red socks is marking its location ...

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
J. Saunders

J. Saunders

Co-partner or employee of the South Suburban Gas Company. Served but did not die in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War served, WW1
1 memorial
Chalk Farm bus garage - WW1 "Grotto" plaque

Chalk Farm bus garage - WW1 "Grotto" plaque

NW1, Harmood Street, Bus garage

In 2021 Robert Turner sent us photos of a postcard showing a war memorial at the Chalk Farm bus garage. This had been found by his friend...

2 subjects commemorated