Labour history news

Kent mining museum opens at former Betteshanger Colliery

The century-long history of coal mining in Kent, one of the UK’s most southerly coalfields, is now commemorated at a new museum. The Kent Mining Museum, based at Betteshanger Country Park near Deal, opened its doors to visitors on 2 April, and aims to provide a permanent home for the stories and collections of Kent’s mining communities. Former miners from the county’s collieries are among … Continue reading Kent mining museum opens at former Betteshanger Colliery

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Labour History Review

Classics of labour history: volume one of the Dictionary of Labour Biography

Fifteen volumes of the Dictionary of Labour Biography have now appeared in print, and there is as yet no sign that the series is anywhere near complete. When the labour historian Royden Harrison (1927-2002) reviewed volume one for the SSLH Bulletin back in 1972 (below), his main complaint was that the price of £10 was clearly ‘preposterous’. For generations of students, however, the ever-growing resource … Continue reading Classics of labour history: volume one of the Dictionary of Labour Biography

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Labour history news

Migration Museum reopens to tell the stories of those who came to the UK and those who left

Britain’s only museum of migration reopens on Saturday 9 April at premises in the heart of Lewisham shopping centre. Set up to explore how the movement of people both to and from Britain down the ages has shaped individuals, communities and the nation as a whole, the Migration Museum stages exhibitions and events, and has an education programme for primary, secondary, university and adult learners. … Continue reading Migration Museum reopens to tell the stories of those who came to the UK and those who left

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Events, SSLH news

Keith Laybourn marks half a century at the University of Huddersfield

Keith Laybourn, Diamond Jubilee Professor Emeritus and President of the Society for the Study of Labour History, will be giving a valedictory lecture to commemorate fifty years at the University of Huddersfield. He will be speaking on ’The politics of working class gambling in Britain between c1900 and the 1960s’. The event takes place on Wednesday 25 May, between 5pm and 7pm. Booking is not … Continue reading Keith Laybourn marks half a century at the University of Huddersfield

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Labour History Review

Classics of labour history: Margaret Cole on Fabian socialism

Margaret Cole never held office in the Society for the Study of Labour History, yet without her influence it may never have come into existence. Born Margaret Postgate in 1893, she came to politics during the first world war, when she campaigned on behalf of her brother, the imprisoned socialist conscientious objector Raymond Postgate, and through him met the political theorist and historian G.D.H. ‘Douglas’ … Continue reading Classics of labour history: Margaret Cole on Fabian socialism

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Labour History Review

Classics of labour history: The Making of the English Working Class

It is almost impossible today to think about labour history without some reference to E.P. Thompson’s classic work The Making of the English Working Class. Read by millions in the fifty years since its publication, and loved by many, it is by any measure a core text of social and economic history, and its importance was recognised from the start. The review republished here, written … Continue reading Classics of labour history: The Making of the English Working Class

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Events, SSLH news

Chartism Day 2022: report from a day of research, song and a missing friend

From ‘Shabby Feargus’ to the impact of the Northern Star’s move south and Chartists as ‘premature liberal democrats’, the first Chartism Day since 2019 was as entertaining as it was informative and thought-provoking. It had been a long-time coming. But finally, after two years in which Chartism Day did not happen as the world went into lockdowns and social distancing, more than 70 delegates were … Continue reading Chartism Day 2022: report from a day of research, song and a missing friend

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Documents & objects

GCHQ: a badge of honour for trade unionism

On 14 May 1997, just a fortnight after the landslide election of a Labour government, Foreign Secretary Robin Cook stood up in the House of Commons to announce that a thirteen-year ban on trade union membership at the Government Communication Headquarters (GCHQ) was to be rescinded. The long-promised move brought to an end one of the longest-running industrial disputes in British history, and one of … Continue reading GCHQ: a badge of honour for trade unionism

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Labour history news

Unveiled: statues for the twenty-first century

Professor Angela V. John introduces the Monumental Welsh Women project to commemorate five ‘hidden heroines’ chosen by popular vote Statues make statements. They become symbolic, not only for the time when they are erected but also for the future. The toppling of the statue of slave trader Edward Colston in Bristol in 2020 and the publicity this generated speaks about current anger and attitudes and … Continue reading Unveiled: statues for the twenty-first century

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