Bazaar Brochure Cover
Brochure Page 1
Brochure Page 2
Countess of Warwick's Speech
Lord Bentinck's Speech
The brochure you see here, dated January 1912, gives the cost of building the Workers' Institute, and explains how it was intended to be used. There is mention of a library but, as far as we know, that hope was never realized. The brochure also gives notice of two bazaars to be held on Monday 5th, and Tuesday 6th February, at Graingers Lane Schools, and it includes an appeal for support from local people in the form of money or goods for sale. The brochure is endorsed by Mary Macarthur, and Thomas and Charles Sitch, who were all leading figures in the 1910 Cradley Heath women chainmakers' strike. It was the surplus from the strike fund that helped to build the Institute, but more money was needed to furnish it. Charles Sitch had said that they wanted to make the building as good inside as it was outside, and the amount they wished to realize was £300.
Arrangements for the bazaars took many months. They were grand occasions, attended by many famous and important people. 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, and was met at Birmingham by Mr Arthur H. Moody, editor of the County Express newspaper. They reached Cradley Heath railway station just after 3 p.m., where a large crowd was waiting for her. As the Bazaar Committee had requested, the town had been decorated to welcome her.
As the Countess left the station, her car slowed for her to see the Institute building. "A building that strikes the eye somewhat, because of the style of architecture not very prevalent in the district," having "more than the usual touch of romance about it. Two years ago the very idea of such a place in Cradley Heath had been scarcely dreamed of." (County Express, 10th February, 1912)
In her speech, an extract of which is included here, the Countess paid tribute to the women chainmakers, who had made such a brave fight for a living wage. Lord Henry Cavendish-Bentinck, M.P. and member of the executive of the National Sweating League, opened the bazaar on Tuesday. He paid a similar tribute. He assured the women chainmakers that they had achieved fame in the history of industrial legislation, with their victory for a minimum wage under the Trade Boards Act. There were many other speakers. Mary Macarthur was to have been one of them, but had been unable to attend. Mr Moody took her place as chairman, saying, "it is with some little regret that he found he was replacing a lady like Miss Macarthur. Inasmuch as it was the replacement of female labour by male labour, perhaps Miss Macarthur would forgive him."
With the speeches over, the bazaars were officially opened. It was reported that over 700 people were present on the first day. There were stalls selling art, glass and a variety of other objects, flowers and fancy work, and items made by a sewing class. There was an advertisement stall, a children's stall and bran tub and a tea room.
Concert parties were held each evening after the bazaars had closed. Performances were held in the school's large hall. Children's concerts were held in the lecture room, and included such performances as a "Butterfly Dance" by Miss Ruby Tibbetts, "Jingle Bells" by Miss Milly Piper and Master Baden Powell with chorus, and the "Housemaids Dance" by 13 girls.
Takings from the stalls amounted to £60. The Chainmakers and Strikers' Association contributed £75. Amongst other contributors were the Countess of Warwick £10, Mr. John Fellows, who had owned the land on which the Institute was built £10, Lord Henry Cavendish-Bentinck £5, the architect, Mr. A.T. Butler £2 2s (£2.10) The final total raised was £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 |
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| Organisation's website |