The Jarrow March
Jarrow March
The Jarrow March of 5 – 31 October 1936, also known as the Jarrow Crusade, was an organised protest against the unemployment and poverty suffered in the English Tyneside town of Jarrow during the 1930s. Around 200 men marched from Jarrow to London, carrying a petition to the Britis…
What was the Jarrow March?
In 1936, mass unemployment and extreme poverty in the north-east of England drove 200 men to march in protest from Jarrow to London. Their MP, Ellen Wilkinson was with them as they came south to petition parliament.
What happened to the men before they left Jarrow?
Just before they left the men attended a short Church service blessed by the Bishop of Jarrow. In her electrifying account of the Crusade, The Town that was Murdered, Wilkinson charted the progress of herself and the men.
Why did the Bishop of Jarrow deny his blessing on the March?
That day, the Bishop of Durham was gratified and the marchers correspondingly disappointed, when in a letter to The Times the Bishop of Jarrow denied that his blessing on the march had indicated his support for the venture. The blessing was, he said an act of Christian duty; in general he believed that such marches should be discouraged.
Why did Jarrow councillors not follow up their request for women's March?
The respectable councillors of Jarrow, however, were determined to maintain their cross-party appeal and did not follow up this request. Their success in raising the thousand pounds needed for the march, enough to give the men some pocket money, proved them right. The marchers were carefully chosen. Women were not invited.
What was the aim of the Jarrow March?
The Crusade, led by David Riley (chair of Jarrow council) and Ellen Wilkinson, covered 282 miles and took 26 days to complete. The marchers aimed to arrive in Westminster at the opening of Parliament, where they would present a petition signed by 12,000 residents of Jarrow.
Why was there a march from Jarrow to London?
A March has been organised for the purpose of drawing the attention of the Government to the Unemployment position in the town, and in the hope that by this means the position of Jarrow will obtain wide publicity and sympathy of the general public resulting in the establishment of industry to provide work for ...
Did the Jarrow March achieve anything?
The Jarrow March was a failure. A failure for those men desperate for employment, desperate for change and seeking acknowledgement of their plight. The Jarrow March may not have achieved its aims but it turned out to be a crucial turning point in the social attitudes of Britain in the following decades.
Where did the Jarrow March start?
South TynesideThe Jarrow Crusade – Speech by Ellen Wilkinson, MP for Jarrow, in the House of Commons on malnutrition, 1936. On 5 October 1936, 200 unemployed men from Jarrow in South Tyneside began to march to Parliament in what is known as the Jarrow March or Jarrow Crusade.
Why did people go on hunger marches?
Hunger marches are a form of social protest that arose in the United Kingdom during the early 20th century. Often the marches involved groups of men and women walking from areas with high unemployment, to London where they would protest outside parliament.
What social and economic problems did the Jarrow March bring to light?
They faced 4 main social problems: poor standard of living and working conditions as well as high unemployment and infant mortality. While the British government provided money to improve local economy it did nothing to improve the region's position.
How did the government respond to the Jarrow March?
At the time of the march, Britain was ruled by a National government whose personnel and policies were largely Conservative. Despite its lack of response to the plight of Jarrow, its protectionist policies did eventually improve the British economy somewhat, by increasing domestic consumption.
Who organized the hunger march in 1931?
Its founder, Ronald Kidd, set up the Council as he was concerned about the use of agent provocateurs by the police to incite violence during and after the 1932 marches.
Which of these British singer songwriters wrote and recorded a song about the 1936 Jarrow hunger march?
Jarrow Song by Alan Price - Songfacts.
What is Jarrow famous for?
Jarrow is a town in the North-East of England and has one of the most important historic sites in the world, the Monastery of Saint Paul, which was home to the Venerable Bede.
What county is Jarrow?
metropolitan county of Tyne and WearJarrow, North Sea port town and urban area (from 2011 built-up area), South Tyneside metropolitan borough, metropolitan county of Tyne and Wear, historic county of Durham, northeastern England. It lies along the south bank of the River Tyne.
What is Jarrow famous for?
Jarrow is a town in the North-East of England and has one of the most important historic sites in the world, the Monastery of Saint Paul, which was home to the Venerable Bede.
Which of these British singer songwriters wrote and recorded a song about the 1936 Jarrow hunger march?
Jarrow Song by Alan Price - Songfacts.
What county is Jarrow?
metropolitan county of Tyne and WearJarrow, North Sea port town and urban area (from 2011 built-up area), South Tyneside metropolitan borough, metropolitan county of Tyne and Wear, historic county of Durham, northeastern England. It lies along the south bank of the River Tyne.
What was the Jarrow March?
The Jarrow March was a failure. A failure for those men desperate for employment, desperate for change and seeking acknowledgement of their plight. The Jarrow March may not have achieved its aims but it turned out to be a crucial turning point in the social attitudes of Britain in the following decades.
How long has the Jarrow March been remembered?
The Jarrow March continues to be remembered 81 years later, a mark of the ordinary man and his right to be heard. Britain’s democracy continues to uphold this legacy today.
How many men were in the march of Jarrow in 1936?
On Monday 5th October 1936, 200 fit men who had been selected for the march set off, leaving Jarrow to crowds cheering them on, holding banners and encouraging their fellow townspeople. Over the next 26 days the men toured the country, taking scheduled rests and passing through towns such as Harrogate, Mansfield and Northampton.
Why did Baldwin give a speech at Jarrow?
Baldwin gave a speech in an attempt to reassure the people of Jarrow that any steel works proposals were under genuine consideration , although his optimistic tone amounted to nothing. Salt and the other investors eventually withdrew as the project began to appear more and more unviable.
Where did the marchers go on Sunday 1st November?
Eventually on Sunday 1st November the marchers proceeded to Hyde Park where a rally was quickly arranged. Ellen Wilkinson on the 4th November handed the petition to the House of Commons with over 11,000 signatures. The result, a meek discussion on the situation in Jarrow, their sympathies heard but not addressed, the men after weeks of walking, preparation and months of living below the bread line returned to Jarrow the next day disheartened.
Who was vocal in her support for the town of Jarrow?
Ellen Wilkinson was vocal in her support for the town. The lack of response from the House of Commons and lack of empathy for those in poverty in Jarrow was the final straw for those men whose own lives and those of their loved ones were on the line. Action needed to be taken.
What was Palmer's shipyard in demand for?
Palmer’s remained in high demand well into the First World War when the local shipyard produced Britain’s warships such as HMS Resolution. Even after the war, the shipyard continued its production and maintained manageable levels of profit, however the 1920’s brought a new array of problems.
Where did the Jarrow march?
In October 1936, a group 200 men from the north-eastern town of Jarrow marched 300 miles to London. They wanted Parliament, and the people in the south, to understand that they were orderly, responsible citizens, but were living in a region where there were many difficulties, and where there was 70 per cent unemployment - leading one ...
What time did the Jarrow men march?
Bearing blue-and-white banners, the Jarrow men paraded at 8.45 each morning of their 25-day march. Many marched army style - 50 minutes to the hour with 10 minutes' rest. A mouth organ band was a great success, 'keeping the men swinging along all the time', according to a report in the Shields Gazette, and there was singing - led sometimes by Ellen Wilkinson. One marcher described one day, with rain '...belting down ...cats and dogs ...but we were still marching like soldiers. There were people on the pavement, they were crying you know...'
What was the hunger march?
There was widespread and long-term male unemployment, and in protest against this, 'hunger marches' were arranged by the National Unemployed Workers' Movement (NUWM). These included a march of 2000 people in 1932, two further national marches in 1934 and 1936, and a march of 200 blind people to London, also in 1936. It was in this climate that Jarrow Borough Council, on 20th July 1936 decided to present a petition to Parliament, delivered by men who had marched the 300 miles to London. They called this their 'crusade', partly to emphasise the seriousness of their plight and partly to distinguish their march from those of the NUWM - whose connection with the Communist party raised the spectre of revolution.
What did the Jarrow men receive at Leeds?
At Leeds the Jarrow men received a welcome donation - for their return trip by train. At Barnsley, the men rejoiced in the specially-heated municipal baths. Ellen Wilkinson had the women's foam bath all to herself. Some of the marchers were showing signs of the strain they were under, and care was provided by medical students from the Inter Hospital Socialist Society.
How many people signed the Jarrow petition?
The petition, signed by 11,000 Jarrow people, was carried in an oak box with gold lettering. A further petition was collected en route. Overnight accommodation varied, from the the casual wards of local workhouses to more friendly lodgings and municipally-arranged feasts. One helper along the route described how, on one occasion, he saw a marcher take the ham from inside his sandwich, and place it in an envelope. When asked what he was doing he replied, 'I'm sending it home ...my family haven't had meat in the house for six weeks.'
Why was Palmer's shipyard closed?
The men were demanding that a steel works be built to bring back jobs to their town , as Palmer's shipyard in Jarrow had been closed down in the previous year. The yard had been Jarrow's major source of employment, and the closure compounded the problems of poverty, overcrowding, poor housing and high mortality rates that already beset the town. Ellen Wilkinson, the local MP, later wrote that Jarrow at that time was:
What caused the Labour Party to refuse affiliation with the NUWM?
Fear of this had caused the Labour party to refuse affiliation with the NUWM, while recognising the movement's value in representing claimants who came before the benefit tribunals. The Jarrow crusade, however, attracted broad political support, including that of local Conservatives.
When was the Jarrow March sent?
Details of the Jarrow March sent from the Ministry of Labour to the Home Office, 26th September 1936 (MEPO 2/3097)
Who has agreed to examine each man in order to ensure that he is physically fit to take part in the March?
a) The Local Medical Officer of Health has agreed to examine each man in order to ensure that he is physically fit to take part in the March.
When did Palmer's Shipyard close?
Most of these men were formerly employed in Palmer’s Shipyard, which closed down in 1931. The Steelworks which at one time employed approximately 2,500, closed down in 1921, but the blast furnaces, which employed 1,500 up to 1921, re-started in November, 1926 until October, 1928. They afterwards re-opened in 1929, and finally closed down in May, 1930. During the latter two periods approximately 400 men were employed.
What kind of ambulance will accompany the Marchers?
f) A motor ambulance will accompany the Marchers.
Why did Wilkinson help the Jarrow march?
She was determined to force London to take notice and persuaded the Jarrow authorities to support a march to Parliament to gain publicity for the town. Wilkinson had helped organise marches before, ones mainly for the Unemployed Workers’ Movement, and led by the Communist Party.
Who refused to meet the Jarrow marchers?
On November 4 th ,when Wilkinson and the Jarrow marchers tried to present their petition to Parliament, the Conservative Prime Minister, Stanley Baldwin, refused to meet them. It seemed as if the Jarrow Crusade had failed. However, largely as a result of Wilkinson’s passionate oratory, organisational genius and evocatively titled book The Town that was Murdered, the situation in Jarrow won headline inches.
Why did the TUC send out a circular to the trades council?
Indeed, the TUC sent out a circular to each local Trades Council advising them not to help the marchers. This, Wilkinson later claimed, led to marchers being given hot meals, help and a place to sleep by the Conservative Party because the Trades Council and the Labour Party had obeyed the circular sent out by the TUC.
What was the population of Jarrow in 1936?
In 1936 Jarrow was one of the most disadvantaged and depressed towns in England: out of a population of 35,000, 6,000 were on the dole and 23,000 were on relief. Only 100 out of 8,000 skilled manual workers were employed. There was no work.
How many people signed the petition in Jarrow?
They carried a petition, signed by nearly 12,000 Jarrow citizens, which they hoped to present to Parliament. The petitioners, it said, ‘humbly pray that His Majesty’s Government and this honourable House will realise the urgent need that work should be provided for the town without delay’.
When did Jarrow shipyard close?
In 1931 Jarrow lost its steel works and three years later the prestigious Jarrow ship yard was demolished, a closure Wilkinson insisted that ‘cut the throat of Jarrow’ as the vast majority of the working population depended upon it for employment.
How long did the men march?
The men marched for 50 minutes, rested for 10 minutes then marched again. At noon they ate lunch, sometimes stew, tinned fruit and hot tea and in fine weather took a nap lying on the grass. When the weather was poor they stood in the rain under their capes, eating sandwiches.
