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.

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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

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

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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

Lady Workers' Homes Ltd

Lady Workers' Homes Ltd

From The Story of Holly Lodge by Margaret Downing March 2009: "Founded in 1914, LWH provided affordable, well managed, conveniently situated small flats for 'educated women of small means'. The Co...

Group, Gender Issues, Social Welfare

2 memorials
Nora Maude

Nora Maude

Central Secretary of the Mothers' Union in 1925.  In 1926 was quoted in newspapers as opposed to divorce, supporting a MU decision to deny membership to a divorced woman.

Person, Gender Issues, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Blue Plaque Rebellion

Blue Plaque Rebellion

Writing her book 'Eat Sweat Play: How Sport Can Change Our Lives' Anna Kessel, was shocked at the lack of recognition for sportswomen from the past. Hence the Blue Plaque Rebellion, set up with the...

Group, Gender Issues, Sport / Games

1 memorial
Lady Jane Francesca Wilde

Lady Jane Francesca Wilde

Born Dublin. Mother of Oscar Wilde. Poet under the pseudonym ‘Speranza’. Supporter of the Irish nationalist movement and advocate of women’s rights. Died 146 (now 87) Oakley Street.

Person, Gender Issues, Nationalism, Poetry, Ireland

1 memorial
Henrietta Franklin

Henrietta Franklin

Education reformer and leader of Jewish League for Woman Suffrage. She championed the Parents' National Educational Union and the ideas of Charlotte Mason. Born as Henrietta Montagu in London into...

Person, Education, Gender Issues

1 memorial

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Horatio, Lord Nelson

Horatio, Lord Nelson

Born in Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk. Naval commander who became a national hero as a result of his victories in the battle of the Nile (1798) and the Battle of Trafalgar (1805). He was mortally wounded...

Person, Armed Forces, Race Issues, Seriously Famous

17 memorials
La Patente church

La Patente church

In 1740 this French Hugeonot church moved into the building in Hanbury Street, with a patent granted by King James II.

Group, Religion, France

2 memorials
William Booth statue - Denmark Hill

William Booth statue - Denmark Hill

SE5, Champion Park, William Booth Memorial Training College

The statue was dedicated on the centenary of Booth's birth. The future Duke of Kent unveiled it when he was here to open the building.

2 subjects commemorated, 2 creators
Richard Budd, Jnr.

Richard Budd, Jnr.

Richard Budd was born on 3 July 1806, the eldest of the six children of Henry Budd (1787-1862) and Charlotte Budd née Swain (1787-1848). He was baptised on 5 August 1806 at the Bridewell Chapel in ...

Person, Friend / family

1 memorial