Ben Tillett Archives - Bristol Radical History Group

The Origins and an Account of Black Friday - 23rd December 1892

Type: Pamphlet
By Roger Ball,

Autumn 1892 in Bristol saw a violent class war between employers, strike-breaking labour and police on one side and strikers and their mass of working class supporters on the other. Picketing, mass marches and public meetings of thousands of ‘new’ industrial unionists were common, culminating in the use of military and police by the local... More →

Black Friday And The Dockers' Strikes Of 1892-3

Type: Galleries

These pictures were found in Bristol Central Reference Library and they should be consulted if you wish to reproduce them (refandinfo@bristol.gov.uk). The dispute opened on 5 November 1892, when Bristol timber merchants hired non-union labourers to work alongside Dockers' Union members. This was viewed by the men as the thin end of a wedge; if the... More →

The Bristol Strike Wave of 1889-1890 Socialists, New Unionists and New Women - Part 2: Days of Doubt

Type: Pamphlet
By Mike Richardson,

Following on from part one, this pamphlet traces the period of industrial unrest in Bristol between January and August 1890. The lockout of boot and shoe workers that began in December 1889, and continued for the first few weeks of January 1890, provided the opportunity for combining the forces of skilled organised workers with the unskilled and... More →

The Bristol Strike Wave of 1889-1890 Socialists, New Unionists and New Women - Part 1: Days of Hope

Type: Pamphlet
By Mike Richardson,

During 1889-1890, a strike wave swept across Britain hitting many major towns and cities. Bristol was not immune. The scale and intensity of industrial unrest in the city reached a level never experienced before. The city’s labour historian Samuel Bryher depicted Bristol at this time as ‘a seething centre of revolt’. This experience set in... More →

Ben Tillett

Type: Galleries

Ben Tillett, was born in Easton, Bristol in 1860 and founded the first unions for unskilled workers and a leader of the Great London Dock Strike of 1889. He went on to be a founder member of the Labour Party and the Daily Herald Newspaper. At various times he was also the Alderman of London County Council, Labour MP for Salford North and Chair of... More →

The Bristol Strike Wave of 1889-90

Type: Galleries

The Bristol strike wave of 1889-90 is one of, if not the most significant event in Bristol’s labour history. It threw up great fighters for the labour cause who should not be forgotten. They include, in no particular order, the Sharland brothers (Robert, Will, John and Tom), Robert Weare, Robert Gilliard, Robert Tovey, Robert Allan Nicol, Miriam... More →

Ben Tillett

Type: Event
Date: Sunday 1st April, 2012
With: Jim McNeill,

Ben Tillett ~ Working class friend or foe? A talk and discussion led by Jim McNeill To launch Bristol Radical History Group's new pamphlet, "Ben Tillett" this talk will cover the life and work of this Bristol-born, Trade Union leader. Tillett was the fiery and outspoken leader of numerous dock strikes from 1888 to 1914 in Bristol, London, Hull and... More →

Ben Tillett

Type: Pamphlet
By Jim McNeill,

This booklet concerns the life of a working-class Bristolian who, though tireless and outspoken in his early days in addressing the inequalities of society, nevertheless moved more and more towards a position of contempt for both the members of his own trade unions and the working people who voted for him as an MP. A study of Ben Tillett’s life... More →

Ben Tillett Audio

Type: News

Below is the audio from Jim McNeil's talk about Ben Tillett at Hydra Books. The talk an operturnity for Jim to launch his new pamphlet about Ben Tileltt. To find out more about this pamphlet, and all our pamphlets, take a look at the Publications Page. Part 1 More →