HIDDEN FROM HISTORY
One of the first officially recorded strikes held in Norwich was undertaken by Women brushmakers in the City in July 1872
NORWICH STRIKE AND LOCK-OUT OF THE BRUSHMAKERS
There has been considerable agitation and excitement fur some days past amongst the female brushmakers of this city with regard to a strike for higher wages, and on Wednesday the excitement reached its climax in a strike and lock-out at the Messrs. Page's in the Haymarket, and also at Messrs. Rogers and Page's.
ln the evening there was a large and excited meeting of these female operatives in the large room of the "British Workman, No. 1," Prince's street, where several of the young women on strike addressed their fellow workwomen, urging upon them the necessity of combination and firmness in their demands for higher wages.
The speakers were listened to with great attention, and frequently applauded.
The meeting generally agreed to bold firmness to the demand for more pay.
A large meeting of the men brushmakers also was held the same evening at that Tuns Inn, St. Giles', to take into consideration the advisability of procuring an advance on the present rate wages;
Saturday 27 July 1872 - Lynn Advertiser
Page's of Norwich opened a factory in Wymondham solely to recruit lowly paid female villagers who allegedly "preferred rather to work in the brushworks than the farm!" In March 1891 these women joined the Amalgamated Society of Brushmakers and went on strike when they realised that their wages were substantially below the Norwich rates.
The brushworkers of Kings Lynn seem to have had their own Brushmakers Society which stayed aloof from the National Society
The United Society of Brushmakers was formed in 1839
Amalgamated Society of Brushmakers was established on 17 December 1889 (note on the Societies certificate is displayed the crest of Norwich - so we can assume they had a branch in the City)
Brush makers clubhouse at Norwich in 1829 was recorded as, York Tavern, Castle Ditches, Daniel Lilly - These would have not only been venues of meetings but also to provide accommodation for "tramping" (those walking to find work around the country)
NORWICH STRIKE AND LOCK-OUT OF THE BRUSHMAKERS
There has been considerable agitation and excitement fur some days past amongst the female brushmakers of this city with regard to a strike for higher wages, and on Wednesday the excitement reached its climax in a strike and lock-out at the Messrs. Page's in the Haymarket, and also at Messrs. Rogers and Page's.
ln the evening there was a large and excited meeting of these female operatives in the large room of the "British Workman, No. 1," Prince's street, where several of the young women on strike addressed their fellow workwomen, urging upon them the necessity of combination and firmness in their demands for higher wages.
The speakers were listened to with great attention, and frequently applauded.
The meeting generally agreed to bold firmness to the demand for more pay.
A large meeting of the men brushmakers also was held the same evening at that Tuns Inn, St. Giles', to take into consideration the advisability of procuring an advance on the present rate wages;
Saturday 27 July 1872 - Lynn Advertiser
NOTES
Page's of Norwich opened a factory in Wymondham solely to recruit lowly paid female villagers who allegedly "preferred rather to work in the brushworks than the farm!" In March 1891 these women joined the Amalgamated Society of Brushmakers and went on strike when they realised that their wages were substantially below the Norwich rates.
The brushworkers of Kings Lynn seem to have had their own Brushmakers Society which stayed aloof from the National Society
The United Society of Brushmakers was formed in 1839
Amalgamated Society of Brushmakers was established on 17 December 1889 (note on the Societies certificate is displayed the crest of Norwich - so we can assume they had a branch in the City)
Brush makers clubhouse at Norwich in 1829 was recorded as, York Tavern, Castle Ditches, Daniel Lilly - These would have not only been venues of meetings but also to provide accommodation for "tramping" (those walking to find work around the country)
RADICAL NORFOLK
Wymondham women brush makers circa 1900
