Group    From 1861  To 1979

Bryant and May - Fairfield Works

Categories: Industry

Halfway along Fairfield Road stands the old Bryant and May Factory. A Grade II listed building designed by Holman and Goodrham. The brick entrance includes a depiction of Noah’s Ark and the word "Security" used as a trademark on the matchboxes. It used to be the largest match factory in the UK and at full production in 1911, the site employed more than 2,000 women and girls.  It was the site of the Matchgirls Strike.  See also Gladstone's statue at Bow Church.

The factory closed in 1979 when the business transferred to Liverpool and the building is now a gated private apartment complex known as the Bow Quarter.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Bryant and May - Fairfield Works

Commemorated ati

Bryant & May Testimonial fountain - lost

This elaborate fountain was commissioned by Bryant and May to celebrate the a...

Read More

Bryant & May Testimonial fountain - plaque

This plaque is a rarity: a memorial to a memorial! The site of the fountain ...

Read More

Fairfield Works

Fairfield Works Fairfield Road. The scene of the match girls strike of 1888. ...

Read More

Other Subjects

J. Arthur Rank

J. Arthur Rank

Flour miller and film-maker. Born Joseph Arthur Rank at Chestnut Villas, Holderness Road, Drypool, Kingston upon Hull. He worked for many years in his (very wealthy) father's flour milling business...

Person, Cinema, Industry

1 memorial
Alfred Mond, Baron Melchett

Alfred Mond, Baron Melchett

Born in Lancashire, where his father Ludwig had a factory.  Studied law and then entered his father's business as director.  Liberal and then Conservative MP 1906-28. In 1926 he achieved the merger...

Person, Industry, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
New River Company

New River Company

See the New River for an explanation of why the New River Company came into being.  Puzzled why the Company should have been so involved in rebuilding after war damage we found the explanation at A...

Group, Industry

6 memorials
Chelsea china

Chelsea china

Manufactured in a house at the north end of Lawrence Street SW3, 1745-1784. The factory was founded by two Frenchmen, Charles Gouyn, a goldsmith and Nicholas Sprimont, a silversmith. It was the fir...

Concept, Food & Drink, Industry

1 memorial