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
Pimlico Tavern & Pimlico Pleasure Gardens, Hoxton
It seems likely that this tavern and pleasure gardens took the name of a publican with the foreign name 'Pimlico'. There were many places of entertainment nearby and the whole area became known as...
Charles Cheers, Baron Wakefield of Hythe CGE, LLD
Charles Cheers Wakefield was born and raised in Liverpool. (Cheers was his mother's maiden name). Became an oil-broker, founding his own firm in 1899, C.C. Wakefield & Co. later Wakefield Oil C...
Person, Commerce, Lord Mayor, Philanthropy, Politics & Administration
Royal Exchange Assurance
The offices of this company were in the Royal Exchange. Their insignia depicts the second Royal Exchange Building.
Harry Chi-Cheung Lee
President of the China Town Chinese Association (London).
Person, Commerce, Politics & Administration, Tourism / Traditions, China/Hong Kong
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