Bazaar Brochure Cover
Brochure Page 1
Brochure Page 2
Countess of Warwick's Speech
Lord Bentinck's Speech
Money left over from the 1910 women chainmakers' strike was used to build the Workers' Institute, but more was needed to furnish it. Two bazaars were held on 5th and 6th of February to raise the funds. The brochure shown here was used to advertise them. The names of Mary Macarthur, Thomas and Charles Sitch appear on the brochure appealing for support. All three had played an important part in organising the strike. Charles Sitch said that they wanted to make the building as good inside as it was outside, and hoped to raise £300.
It took several months to get everything ready. These days we think of bazaars and "bring and buy" sales as very local and low key, but these bazaars were very grand occasions. The County Express (10th February 1912) reported that, "there were represented there that afternoon, the leaders of various religious bodies, all shades of political thought, employers and work people, trade unionists and employers' officials, the poor and the aristocracy, all on one common platform, and with one common object...nothing less than the bettering and uplifting of the people and making life worth living for hundreds of families of the very poorest of the district."
Monday's bazaar was opened by the Countess of Warwick.She travelled from her home in Essex. A large crowd met her when she arrived at Cradley Heath station, and the town had been decorated to welcome her. In her speech the Countess praised the women chainmakers for their brave fight for a living wage. We have included part of her speech for you to read. Tuesday's bazaar was opened by Lord Henry Cavendish-Bentinck, M.P. He was a member of the National Sweating League. An extract of his speech is also included.
It was reported that over 700 people were there on the first day. There were concert parties each evening after the bazaars had closed. Takings from the stalls amounted to £60.With donations from many of the visitors, and £75 pounds from the Chainmakers and Strikers' Association, the bazaars raised a total of £241 7s (£241.35).
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| Reference: | 698 |
| Keywords: | |
| Archive Ref: | 2007-001-0052 |
| Updated: | Mon 25 Jun 2007 - 0 |
| Interpretation written by | Barbara Harris |
| Author's organisation | |
| Organisation's website |