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
Kops Brewery
The first brewer of non-alcoholic beer in the United Kingdom. This photograph was taken in 1900. From the 1900 "Fulham old and new": "Between Town Mead Road and the river, a little eastwards of Wa...
1 memorial
Edward Latymer
Wealthy lawyer, merchant, official and a Puritan. Born in Freston, near Ipswich. Much of his life is obscure, but in 1594 he was appointed deputy and clerk to the Receiver General of the High Court...
1 memorial
William Fortnum
The records of the founders of Fortnum and Mason are not too clear. In 1707 a William Fortnum is said to have become a footman to Queen Anne and at about the same time to have founded a grocery bus...
1 memorial
1 memorial
Burmantofts
Manufacturers of ceramic pipes and construction materials, named after the Burmantofts district of Leeds. The business began when fire clay was discovered in a coal mine owned by William Wilcox and...
1 memorial
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