Ten Per Cent and No Surrender: The Preston Strike, 1853-1854This is a study of industrial unrest in the cotton industry at a time when the economy was on the threshold of mid-Victorian prosperity, and when Chartism was still much more than a memory. The town of Preston was the crucial battlefield, and here the masters and men fought out a bitter trial of strength. The strike of 1853-54 closed the Preston cotton industry for seven months, and disrupted production in many other towns in Lancashire. Against the implacable opposition of the masters, the strikers toured the country to organize support, and raised £100,000 in subscriptions from their fellow operatives. The dispute featured prominently in the national and provincial press, and the weavers' delegates, notably George Cowell and Mortimer Grimshaw, became celebrities overnight. After five months, the employers brought in blackleg labour, and when the detested `knobsticks' failed to break the strike they had the operatives' leaders arrested. These moves did not deter the cotton workers, who were forced back to work only when their financial reserves were exhausted. Their campaign ended defiantly, as it had begun, with cries of `Ten Per Cent still, and no surrender'. This book is their story. |
Contents
Preface page vii | 1 |
Ten Per Cent 5 June14 October 1853 | 27 |
The Operatives | 46 |
The Masters | 77 |
Locked Out 15 October 18539 February 1854 | 94 |
Council and Bench | 116 |
Guardians of the Poor | 137 |
The Press | 163 |
Defeat 10 February13 May 1854 | 177 |
Posterity | 195 |
Other editions - View all
Ten Per Cent and No Surrender: The Preston Strike, 1853-1854 H. I. Dutton,J. E. King No preview available - 2008 |
Ten Per Cent and No Surrender: The Preston Strike, 1853-1854 H. I. Dutton,J. E. King No preview available - 1981 |
Ten Per Cent and No Surrender: The Preston Strike, 1853-1854 H. I. Dutton,J. E. King No preview available - 1981 |
Common terms and phrases
accepted active agreed appeared Ashworth Association attacked attempt authorities became began Blackburn Board Burnley called campaign cause cent Chartist claim close combination committee concerned continued cotton Cowell December delegates demand districts early economic election employed employers evidence fact factory firms five force fund further George give given Grimshaw guardians hands History important increase industry issue January John labour Lancashire later less lock-out London loom Lord Lowe magistrates Manchester manufacturers March masters mayor meeting millowners mills months movement never noted November October operatives organization Palmerston peace police political Poor Law Preston question rates reason received reduction refused relief remained reported Society soon spinners Stockport strike success suggested taken ten per cent Thomas throughout took town trade turnouts union urged wages weavers week weekly