A song commemorating the Luddite attack on Foster’s Mill survives only in fragments but helps provide an insight into community solidarity in this early period of labour history, writes Joe Stanley. Foster’s MillBill Price (traditional) Most labour historians will be familiar with West Riding Luddism in 1812. E.P. Thompson paid particular attention to the movement, and stressed its political undertones, in chapter 14 of The … Continue reading In tune: Foster’s Mill
In the third of our continuing series on labour history in song, Constance Bantman shares Massilia Sound System’s take on deindustrialization and gentrification in Marseille. Des MétallosMassilia Sound System (Massilia Sound System, 1995) Trust the famously political Marseillais reggae band Massilia Sound System to write a song dissecting the deindustrialization and gentrification of France’s second largest city and make a joyful banger out of it. … Continue reading In tune: Des Métallos
Submissions are now open for the Labour History Review essay prize 2024. The competition is open to anyone currently registered for a higher research degree, in Britain or abroad, or to anyone who completed such a degree within the timeframe set out in the rules. 👉 Download the entry form and rules. The cash prize for this year’s winner has been substantially increased by the … Continue reading LHR postgraduate essay prize 2024
In the second of our ‘In tune’ series on music and labour history, ballad singer Jennifer Reid introduces a song about a travelling loom engineer – and a young woman in need of his services – that is guaranteed to make you smile. The Bury New LoomJennifer Reid (traditional) I once sang The Bury New Loom for an event at Manchester International Festival in collaboration … Continue reading In tune: The Bury New Loom
Opening a website series on songs associated with labour history, John McIlroy looks at ‘The Working Class in Twentieth-Century Song: A Fan’s Notes[1]’ arguing that researching the genealogy of songs, finding new ones, rediscovering old ones, exploring the cultural ambience in which they were created and performed is part of the folklorist’s mission and the historian’s brief. Find out more about this series. IntroductionThe Great … Continue reading The Working Class in Twentieth-Century Song: A Fan’s Notes
Labour history societies in the North West and North East of England and in Australia have published the 2023 issues of their journals (in the case of Australia’s Labour History, the second issue of the year) with articles looking back to the general election of 1923 that produced the 1924 Labour government, and beyond to the growth of the co-operative movement in the North East. … Continue reading Labour history journals round-up, 2023
If you were not able to be at the Durham Miners Gala in 2023 – or were there and would like to relive the day – you can watch the full fifteen-minute official film of the event on the Gala’s Facebook and YouTube channels from Monday 20 November at 7pm. While you are waiting, here’s the trailer. The is set to premier live on the … Continue reading Durham Miners Gala 2023 official film
The Labour Movement originated not in a single event or location but over time and as the result of events in many places. Among the most important of these was the West Riding of Yorkshire, where the Independent Labour Party was formed in the 1880s. In the second annual John L. Halstead Memorial Lecture, Professor Keith Laybourn spoke on ‘The Rising Sun of Socialism: The … Continue reading Video: The Rising Sun of Socialism and the Labour Movement in West Yorkshire 1884-1914
The 2023 Labour History Review essay prize has been awarded to Manuel Herrera Crespo, PhD researcher at Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, for his essay ‘Porque no ha cambiado nada: The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions and the end of the Cold War’. The judges commented that this was: ‘A well-crafted, persuasive analysis… Meticulously researched.’ The prize includes an award of £500. John Russell, teaching associate at Queen Mary … Continue reading Society names Labour History Review essay prize winners for 2023
Applications for funding in the current round of the BME Small Grants scheme are now open. The deadline for receipt of applications is 5pm on 1 December 2023. The fund aims to support research, events and activities undertaken by BME historians or focused on the histories of BME people The scheme was launched in 2019 in recognition of the under-representation, structural inequalities and racism afflicting … Continue reading Funding round for 2023 BME history projects now open
Society for the Study of Labour History 