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
C. Byford
Worked for the Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society. Was on the building committee for the Bostall Estate in 1900.
1 memorial
Crunchy the Credit Crunch Monster
Official mascot of the global recession.
2 memorials
F. A. Albin & Sons
Family-run firm of funeral directors. The family started as wardens of a local cemetery and opened their first funeral parlour in Snowsfield, Bermondsey. New shop premises were opened at 62 Jamaica...
1 memorial
1 memorial
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