Industrial dispute and Unions.
Mr. Roberts: the "Pitman's Attorney General"
Mr W.P. Roberts was prominent as a solicitor who defended worker's rights during the 1840s, 50s and 60s. He also stood for election in 1847 as a Chartist at Blackburn. The shape and decoration of this jug are typical 1840s style, which would tie in with the major coal mining strikes in the North East of England at that time.
The Miners' Banner pictured here is for Monkwearmouth Lodge. It shows a court scene from the 1869 dispute with "THE CANCELLING OF THE YEARLY BOND BY MR ROBERTS IN 1869". In simple terms the Yearly Bond was a contract which tied men to an employer but did not guarantee employment. The banner is currently hanging inside The Stadium of Light, the ground of Sunderland Football Club, which is built on the site of the former Monkwearmouth Colliery.
The Miners' Banner pictured here is for Monkwearmouth Lodge. It shows a court scene from the 1869 dispute with "THE CANCELLING OF THE YEARLY BOND BY MR ROBERTS IN 1869". In simple terms the Yearly Bond was a contract which tied men to an employer but did not guarantee employment. The banner is currently hanging inside The Stadium of Light, the ground of Sunderland Football Club, which is built on the site of the former Monkwearmouth Colliery.
BURNETT: THE KING OF THE 9 HOURS MOVEMENT
The 9 hours movement was an international workers phenomenon which met with varying success.
On the dust-cover of the book "The North-East Engineers' Strikes of 1871" is a plate featuring John Burnett who with Andrew Gourley organised the striking engineers. William Armstrong led the employers, not all of whom were as committed as him. On some of the items below "Sir W. Armstrong" is shown in oppostion to "John Strong Arm" representing the workers. The strike on Tyneside was a success, some plates below congratulating the "Tyneside men on their victory". The following week the engineers at Sunderland were also granted a 9 hour day.
The first pottery plate sponsored by "MATTHEW STOKER WHOLESALE PROVISION MERCHANT AND TEA DEALER", "3 CHURCH ROW JARROW, AND KING STREET SOUTH SHIELDS" has no makers mark. The portrait of Burnett from this transfer unusually appears on the inside base of a jug which is similarly umarked. The jug has transfers of farming interest and a portrait of James Renforth the Tyneside oarsman who died while racing in Canada in 1871.
The second group of plates made in 1871 by Wardle of Middlesbrough, with a slightly different portrait, appear in brown, green and purple/blue. Some have added colour. The are sponsored by "J GREAVES TEA DEALER NUN ST & CLAYTON ST NEWCASTLE & JARROW" and "W. SNOWBALL. KENT HOUSE + HIGH-ST GATESHEAD".
Wardle produced other commemorative plates including the Swaithe Main Colliery disaster of 1875 and the 50th "RAILWAY JUBILEE COMMEMORATION HELD AT DARLINGTON" in 1875.
On the dust-cover of the book "The North-East Engineers' Strikes of 1871" is a plate featuring John Burnett who with Andrew Gourley organised the striking engineers. William Armstrong led the employers, not all of whom were as committed as him. On some of the items below "Sir W. Armstrong" is shown in oppostion to "John Strong Arm" representing the workers. The strike on Tyneside was a success, some plates below congratulating the "Tyneside men on their victory". The following week the engineers at Sunderland were also granted a 9 hour day.
The first pottery plate sponsored by "MATTHEW STOKER WHOLESALE PROVISION MERCHANT AND TEA DEALER", "3 CHURCH ROW JARROW, AND KING STREET SOUTH SHIELDS" has no makers mark. The portrait of Burnett from this transfer unusually appears on the inside base of a jug which is similarly umarked. The jug has transfers of farming interest and a portrait of James Renforth the Tyneside oarsman who died while racing in Canada in 1871.
The second group of plates made in 1871 by Wardle of Middlesbrough, with a slightly different portrait, appear in brown, green and purple/blue. Some have added colour. The are sponsored by "J GREAVES TEA DEALER NUN ST & CLAYTON ST NEWCASTLE & JARROW" and "W. SNOWBALL. KENT HOUSE + HIGH-ST GATESHEAD".
Wardle produced other commemorative plates including the Swaithe Main Colliery disaster of 1875 and the 50th "RAILWAY JUBILEE COMMEMORATION HELD AT DARLINGTON" in 1875.
Blackburn Riots May 1878
The English cotton industry was in a slump in 1878. There was a breakdown in negotiations over a proposed 10% pay reduction which developed into the riot at Blackburn commemorated on this mug.
People's March for Jobs - '83 To London April - June 1983
"Women and men are marching the length of the country in the depths of an unprecedented depression, to protest at the waste of resources created by mass unemployment, and to demand a future for themselves and their children.
We want jobs! We demand a future!"
We want jobs! We demand a future!"