The Music Hall (1858) Covered Entrance, Albion Street and Trinity Arcade On the 14th December 1858 a meeting was held at the Music Hall on Albion Street to protest against the British opium trade with India and China. The meeting was chaired by Edward Baines and gentlemen including Arthur Lupton, William Hey and Wilson Armistead…
Tag: power and protest
Leeds Civic Trust
Leeds Civic Trust (1965) 17 Wharf Street Established over 50-years ago, the Trust has campaigned for – and succeeded in – preserving and improving heritage sites in Leeds: including Kirkgate Market, the Bank of England site on South Parade, and the first White Cloth Hall. They are responsible for erecting Blue Plaques in the city…
The Dripping Riot of 1865
The Dripping Riot (1865) Park Square Eliza Stafford worked as cook to the surgeon and magistrate Henry Chorley. He discovered she was stealing dripping from his kitchen and brought charges against her. She was found guilty and imprisoned for a month in Armley Prison. The case brought much public sympathy for Eliza and on February…
The Lady Ludd Riots of 1812
Lady Ludd Riots (August 1812) Briggate These took place on Briggate at the height of summer, when a group of women and boys marched through the street attacking corn merchants in protest at perceived high prices. The group was led by a figure styling themselves as ‘Lady Ludd’ – named after ‘Ned Ludd’, the (possibly…
The Corn-price Riot of 1735 and the Turnpike Riot of 1753
Corn Price Riot (1735) Corner of Briggate & King Edward Street During the 18th and early 19th-centuries Leeds saw a significant amount of rioting relating to corn prices and, later, Corn Laws. In 1735 it was reported that, whilst huge amounts of corn were being produced and exported cheaply, Leeds citizens were met with rising,…
The Clothing Strike of 1970
Clothing Strike (1970) Westgate and Great George Street In February 1970, textile workers in Leeds began an unofficial strike in support of their demand for a shilling an hour pay increase. The strike snowballed, with workers attracting further support as they marched from clothing factory to clothing factory – until more than 20,000 people were…
The Leeds Women Against the Clause March
Leeds Women Against the Clause March (5 March 1988) Victoria Gardens Over two thousand Leeds people marched against Clause 28 (Section 28) during the Stop the Clause Demonstration on the 5th of March, 1988. The March was organised by Leeds Women against the Clause and met in Victoria Gardens before marching through the city. The…
The Leeds Women Against Violence Against Women March
Leeds Women Against Violence Against Women March (22 November 1980) City Square On the weekend of 22nd November 1980 the National Women’s Liberation Conference was convened in Leeds, organised by Women against Violence against Women. During this conference, around 500 women – angry about the Police investigation into the Yorkshire Ripper murders and the prospective…
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