TUC Archives

Dudley Archives

Backyard chainshop in Cradley Heath, c.1910

Black Country Living Museum

Mary Macarthur addressing the crowd in Cradley Heath during the women chainmakers’ strike, 1910.

Black Country Living Museum

Strikers and supporters marching through the streets of Cradley Heath from the train station to the Empire Theatre.

TUC Archives

Veteran chainmakers of Cradley Heath, “The White Slaves of England”, appealing for public support, September 1910.

Patience Round, aged 79, (seated third from the right) was the oldest chainmaker at the time of the strike.

TUC Archives

The Westminster Gazette, August 25th 1910

This same letter, appealing for support for the women chainmakers of Cradley Heath, appeared in many national and local newspapers.

Front TUC Archives

The Daily News reported on the address made to the Trade Union Congress by the delegation of women chainmakers:

“On the flower-decked platform appear three worn and pale-faced women clad in black, and holding forth a chain ... one of them spoke ... But though she scarcely uttered twenty words,

the remembrance of her terrible misery gave an eloquent ring to her pleading voice. For making this yard of chain, she said, we get a penny.”

Reverse TUC Archives Following the chainmakers’ appeal to Congress, this circular was sent to every TUC affiliated union. Support for the women was overwhelming.

People’s History Museum

Insignia of the National Federation of Women Workers, the union

founded by Mary Macarthur in 1906.

TUC Archives Appeals for support for the women chainmakers raised more than £4,000, over half of which remained after the strike ended. This letter details how

the surplus was to be spent.