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

Brixton Black Women's Group

Brixton Black Women's Group

Started by Olive Morris and other women who had been active in the Black Panther Movement. It was formed to address the specific issues faced by black women, and to offer advice and support to thos...

Group, Community / Clubs, Gender Issues, Race Issues

2 memorials
Anna Haslam

Anna Haslam

Co-founder of the Irishwomen’s Suffrage and Local Government Association. Born Anna Maria Fisher in County Cork, Ireland, to a large Quaker family already involved in social welfare and reform. Mar...

Person, Gender Issues, Politics & Administration, Ireland

1 memorial
Women's Social and Political Union

Women's Social and Political Union

The leading militant organisation campaigning for women's suffrage, founded in 1903, was known from 1906 as the suffragettes. These were the women who set fire to post boxes, broke windows in promi...

Group, Gender Issues, Politics & Administration

4 memorials
Christine Murrell

Christine Murrell

Doctor and psychologist. Born 1 Jeffrey's Road, Clapham Road. Set up a private practice in Bayswater with her lifelong partner and friend Dr Elizabeth Honor Bone. First woman to be elected to the C...

Person, Gender Issues, Medicine

1 memorial
Annie Besant

Annie Besant

Theosophist, women's rights activist, writer and orator and supporter of Irish and Indian self rule. Born Annie Wood at 2 Fish Street Hill. Married, aged 19, Frank Besant (brother to Sir Walter) bu...

Person, Gender Issues, Nationalism, Paranormal, Politics & Administration, India, Ireland

4 memorials

Previously viewed

National Portrait Gallery - Lawrence

National Portrait Gallery - Lawrence

WC2, Charing Cross Road

This building, 1896, designed by Ewan Christian, has 18 busts contained in medallions around the top of the facades. Starting at the east...

1 subject commemorated
Our Lady of the Assumption Deptford

Our Lady of the Assumption Deptford

SE8, Deptford High Street, 131

A large storage unit partially obscures the plaque.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator