Jarrow March
Encyclopedia
The Jarrow March was an October 1936 protest march
against unemployment
and extreme poverty
suffered in North East England
. The 207 marchers travelled from the town of Jarrow
to the Palace of Westminster
in London
, a distance of almost 300 miles (482.8 km), to lobby Parliament
. Their MP, Ellen Wilkinson
, known as 'Red Ellen', walked with them. When the marchers completed their feat, very little was done for them. The ship industries remained closed and all that they were given was £1 each to get the train back from London.
brought particular distress to North East England, where many citizens were miners
and ship workers
. The collapse of domestic and international trade
in shipbuilding, coal mining, and steel
industries led to even more severe unemployment and poverty than seen in other parts of the country. At the time, unemployment benefit
lasted only for 26 weeks, and the Unemployment Assistance Board
, created in 1934, provided inadequate relief for long-term unemployed people, who were put under the Poor Law
, which forced them to do service for less money than normal. Senior generations of families were forcibly evicted from their family homes.
Jarrow is a small town on the mouth of the River Tyne
, near the city of Newcastle
, which had a large ship building industry. A boomtown
, Jarrow prospered at the start of the 20th century, when more than a quarter of the world's shipping tonnage
was built in North East England. For example, Palmer's Yard
had been established in Jarrow in the mid-19th century. After the Great Depression, the town was never the same.
The National Shipbuilding Industry Securities was set up to counter the increasingly dirty situation. It recommended "closure", which meant closing down a number of producers. Jarrow was one of the older producers closed to protect the more modern shipbuilding producers. cranes
at Palmer's Yard were dismantled, and the town faced a bleak future.
The National Unemployed Workers' Movement
had organised several similar marches before the Jarrow March but received little political support due to the NUWM's links with the Communist Party
. When the Jarrow Borough Council organised the protest in July 1936, they named it a "walk" rather than a march, partly to make it clear their protest was not affiliated with the NUWM in the hope of gaining more support.
No Communists were allowed to participate; some organised another march later in the year, led by Walter Harrison, the grandfather of Conservative politician David Davis
.
The marchers were selected carefully, with only fit men being allowed to participate. A separate march of 200 hundred blind people also left for London in October 1936 (see debate title in Hansard
for Prime Minister's Questions on 5 November 1936 (vol 317 cc 234-5): "Jarrow and Blind Marchers".
The marchers were supported by a bus which carried cooking equipment and ground sheets for when the march had to stop outside. Many of the men marched in army style, walking for 50 minutes before a ten-minute break, and held blue and white banners. A harmonica band and frequent singing helped to keep morale of the marchers high. Sometimes, the local Member of Parliament
, Ellen Wilkinson
, marched with the group to give higher profile to the crusade.
The original petition, which demanded government aid for the town of Jarrow, signed by 11,000 people from Jarrow, was carried in an oak box, whilst supporters of the March could add to an additional petition. The marchers spent the nights in local accommodation, whilst sometimes receiving extra aid from locals. For example, in Barnsley
, the marchers were allowed to use specially-heated municipal baths
.
of the day, Stanley Baldwin
, refused to see any of the marchers' representatives, claiming it would set a dangerous precedent (British House of Commons
Adjournment Debate, 11 November 1936, Hansard
vol 317 cc 957-1011). The marchers generally received sympathy, though no proposal was made to help Jarrow, despite the petition being accepted in the House of Commons
– with a single simple sentence
of announcement, after which the House of Commons went back to their previous business. The march was also discussed at Prime Minister's Questions in the British House of Commons
on 5 November 1936 (Hansard
vol 317 cc 234-5).
It was not until two years after the Jarrow March, in 1938, that a ship breaking
yard and engineering
works were established in Jarrow. The next year, a steelworks was established. However the depression continued in Jarrow until after the beginning of World War II
in September 1939, when industrial production increased due to the nation's need for re-armament.
The Jarrow March is fondly remembered by those on the left
in British politics as a landmark in the history of labour movement, even though the Labour Party of the day opposed it, and the Trades Union Congress
circularised Trades Councils advising them not to help the marchers.
The last surviving member of the march, Cornelius Whalen, died on 14 September 2003, at 93.
In 2008, Go North East
made a tribute bus called the Crusader 27/27A as an honour. From June 2010 the 27A was withdrawn and replaced by the 27 and runs up to every 10 mins between Newcastle and South Shields
For the 75th anniversary in October 2011, Youth Fight for Jobs
plan to recreate the march to highlight record levels of youth unemployment.
Marching
See also: Loaded marchMarching refers to the organized, uniformed, steady and rhythmic walking forward, usually associated with military troops.Marching is often performed to march music, and often associated with military parades....
against unemployment
Unemployment
Unemployment , as defined by the International Labour Organization, occurs when people are without jobs and they have actively sought work within the past four weeks...
and extreme poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
suffered in North East England
North East England
North East England is one of the nine official regions of England. It covers Northumberland, County Durham, Tyne and Wear, and Teesside . The only cities in the region are Durham, Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland...
. The 207 marchers travelled from the town of Jarrow
Jarrow
Jarrow is a town in Tyne and Wear, England, located on the River Tyne, with a population of 27,526. From the middle of the 19th century until 1935, Jarrow was a centre for shipbuilding, and was the starting point of the Jarrow March against unemployment in 1936.-Foundation:The Angles re-occupied...
to the Palace of Westminster
Palace of Westminster
The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament or Westminster Palace, is the meeting place of the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom—the House of Lords and the House of Commons...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, a distance of almost 300 miles (482.8 km), to lobby Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
. Their MP, Ellen Wilkinson
Ellen Wilkinson
Ellen Cicely Wilkinson was the Labour Member of Parliament for Middlesbrough and later for Jarrow on Tyneside. She was one of the first women in Britain to be elected as a Member of Parliament .- History :...
, known as 'Red Ellen', walked with them. When the marchers completed their feat, very little was done for them. The ship industries remained closed and all that they were given was £1 each to get the train back from London.
Background
The global Great DepressionGreat Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
brought particular distress to North East England, where many citizens were miners
Coal mining
The goal of coal mining is to obtain coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content, and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production. In the United States,...
and ship workers
Shipbuilding
Shipbuilding is the construction of ships and floating vessels. It normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a shipyard. Shipbuilders, also called shipwrights, follow a specialized occupation that traces its roots to before recorded history.Shipbuilding and ship repairs, both...
. The collapse of domestic and international trade
International trade
International trade is the exchange of capital, goods, and services across international borders or territories. In most countries, such trade represents a significant share of gross domestic product...
in shipbuilding, coal mining, and steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
industries led to even more severe unemployment and poverty than seen in other parts of the country. At the time, unemployment benefit
Unemployment benefit
Unemployment benefits are payments made by the state or other authorized bodies to unemployed people. Benefits may be based on a compulsory para-governmental insurance system...
lasted only for 26 weeks, and the Unemployment Assistance Board
Unemployment Assistance Board
The Unemployment Assistance Board was a body set up in Britain in 1934 due to the high levels of inter-war poverty in Britain. The Board kept a system of means tested benefits and did widen the number of people who could claim relief....
, created in 1934, provided inadequate relief for long-term unemployed people, who were put under the Poor Law
Poor Law
The English Poor Laws were a system of poor relief which existed in England and Wales that developed out of late-medieval and Tudor-era laws before being codified in 1587–98...
, which forced them to do service for less money than normal. Senior generations of families were forcibly evicted from their family homes.
Jarrow is a small town on the mouth of the River Tyne
River Tyne
The River Tyne is a river in North East England in Great Britain. It is formed by the confluence of two rivers: the North Tyne and the South Tyne. These two rivers converge at Warden Rock near Hexham in Northumberland at a place dubbed 'The Meeting of the Waters'.The North Tyne rises on the...
, near the city of Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, which had a large ship building industry. A boomtown
Boomtown
A boomtown is a community that experiences sudden and rapid population and economic growth. The growth is normally attributed to the nearby discovery of a precious resource such as gold, silver, or oil, although the term can also be applied to communities growing very rapidly for different reasons,...
, Jarrow prospered at the start of the 20th century, when more than a quarter of the world's shipping tonnage
Tonnage
Tonnage is a measure of the size or cargo carrying capacity of a ship. The term derives from the taxation paid on tuns or casks of wine, and was later used in reference to the weight of a ship's cargo; however, in modern maritime usage, "tonnage" specifically refers to a calculation of the volume...
was built in North East England. For example, Palmer's Yard
Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company
Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Limited, often referred to simply as Palmers, was a British shipbuilding company. The Company was based in Jarrow, in Northeast England and also had operations in Hebburn and Willington Quay on the River Tyne....
had been established in Jarrow in the mid-19th century. After the Great Depression, the town was never the same.
The National Shipbuilding Industry Securities was set up to counter the increasingly dirty situation. It recommended "closure", which meant closing down a number of producers. Jarrow was one of the older producers closed to protect the more modern shipbuilding producers. cranes
Crane (machine)
A crane is a type of machine, generally equipped with a hoist, wire ropes or chains, and sheaves, that can be used both to lift and lower materials and to move them horizontally. It uses one or more simple machines to create mechanical advantage and thus move loads beyond the normal capability of...
at Palmer's Yard were dismantled, and the town faced a bleak future.
The National Unemployed Workers' Movement
National Unemployed Workers' Movement
The National Unemployed Workers' Movement was a British organisation set up in 1921 by members of the Communist Party of Great Britain. It aimed to draw attention to the plight of unemployed workers during the post World War I slump, the 1926 General Strike and later the Great Depression, and to...
had organised several similar marches before the Jarrow March but received little political support due to the NUWM's links with the Communist Party
Communist Party of Great Britain
The Communist Party of Great Britain was the largest communist party in Great Britain, although it never became a mass party like those in France and Italy. It existed from 1920 to 1991.-Formation:...
. When the Jarrow Borough Council organised the protest in July 1936, they named it a "walk" rather than a march, partly to make it clear their protest was not affiliated with the NUWM in the hope of gaining more support.
No Communists were allowed to participate; some organised another march later in the year, led by Walter Harrison, the grandfather of Conservative politician David Davis
David Davis (British politician)
David Michael Davis is a British Conservative Party politician who is the Member of Parliament for the constituency of Haltemprice and Howden...
.
March
The march was to find jobs to support Jarrow men and their families. It was also a bid for respect and recognition, not only for the people of Jarrow, but for others in a similar situation all over the country. The marchers had no resources other than their own determination, and some good boots supplied by the public. During the march, wherever the marchers stopped for the night, the local people gave them shelter and food.The marchers were selected carefully, with only fit men being allowed to participate. A separate march of 200 hundred blind people also left for London in October 1936 (see debate title in Hansard
Hansard
Hansard is the name of the printed transcripts of parliamentary debates in the Westminster system of government. It is named after Thomas Curson Hansard, an early printer and publisher of these transcripts.-Origins:...
for Prime Minister's Questions on 5 November 1936 (vol 317 cc 234-5): "Jarrow and Blind Marchers".
The marchers were supported by a bus which carried cooking equipment and ground sheets for when the march had to stop outside. Many of the men marched in army style, walking for 50 minutes before a ten-minute break, and held blue and white banners. A harmonica band and frequent singing helped to keep morale of the marchers high. Sometimes, the local Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
, Ellen Wilkinson
Ellen Wilkinson
Ellen Cicely Wilkinson was the Labour Member of Parliament for Middlesbrough and later for Jarrow on Tyneside. She was one of the first women in Britain to be elected as a Member of Parliament .- History :...
, marched with the group to give higher profile to the crusade.
The original petition, which demanded government aid for the town of Jarrow, signed by 11,000 people from Jarrow, was carried in an oak box, whilst supporters of the March could add to an additional petition. The marchers spent the nights in local accommodation, whilst sometimes receiving extra aid from locals. For example, in Barnsley
Barnsley
Barnsley is a town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Dearne, north of the city of Sheffield, south of Leeds and west of Doncaster. Barnsley is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley, of which Barnsley is the largest and...
, the marchers were allowed to use specially-heated municipal baths
Public bathing
Public baths originated from a communal need for cleanliness. The term public may confuse some people, as some types of public baths are restricted depending on membership, gender, religious affiliation, or other reasons. As societies have changed, public baths have been replaced as private bathing...
.
Route
The route the marchers took was in 22 legs with overnight stops, covering a total of 280.5 miles (451.4 km) as follows:- Jarrow to Chester-le-StreetChester-le-StreetChester-le-Street is a town in County Durham, England. It has a history going back to Roman times when it was called Concangis. The town is located south of Newcastle upon Tyne and west of Sunderland on the River Wear...
– (12 miles) - Chester-le-Street to FerryhillFerryhillFerryhill is a town in south-central County Durham, England with a population of around 11,651 people, making it the 8th biggest town in the County. It is in the Durham County Unitary area...
– (12 miles) - Ferryhill to DarlingtonDarlingtonDarlington is a market town in the Borough of Darlington, part of the ceremonial county of County Durham, England. It lies on the small River Skerne, a tributary of the River Tees, not far from the main river. It is the main population centre in the borough, with a population of 97,838 as of 2001...
– (12 miles) - Darlington to NorthallertonNorthallertonNorthallerton is an affluent market town and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. It lies in the Vale of Mowbray and at the northern end of the Vale of York. It has a population of 15,741 according to the 2001 census...
– (16 miles) - Northallerton to RiponRiponRipon is a cathedral city, market town and successor parish in the Borough of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England, located at the confluence of two streams of the River Ure in the form of the Laver and Skell. The city is noted for its main feature the Ripon Cathedral which is architecturally...
– (17 miles) - Ripon to HarrogateHarrogateHarrogate is a spa town in North Yorkshire, England. The town is a tourist destination and its visitor attractions include its spa waters, RHS Harlow Carr gardens, and Betty's Tea Rooms. From the town one can explore the nearby Yorkshire Dales national park. Harrogate originated in the 17th...
– (11½ miles) - Harrogate to LeedsLeedsLeeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
– (15½ miles) - Leeds to WakefieldWakefieldWakefield is the main settlement and administrative centre of the City of Wakefield, a metropolitan district of West Yorkshire, England. Located by the River Calder on the eastern edge of the Pennines, the urban area is and had a population of 76,886 in 2001....
– (9 miles) - Wakefield to BarnsleyBarnsleyBarnsley is a town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Dearne, north of the city of Sheffield, south of Leeds and west of Doncaster. Barnsley is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley, of which Barnsley is the largest and...
– (9¾ miles) - Barnsley to SheffieldSheffieldSheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
– (13½ miles) - Sheffield to ChesterfieldChesterfieldChesterfield is a market town and a borough of Derbyshire, England. It lies north of Derby, on a confluence of the rivers Rother and Hipper. Its population is 70,260 , making it Derbyshire's largest town...
– (11¾ miles) - Chesterfield to MansfieldMansfieldMansfield is a town in Nottinghamshire, England. It is the main town in the Mansfield local government district. Mansfield is a part of the Mansfield Urban Area....
– (12 miles) - Mansfield to NottinghamNottinghamNottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
– (14½ miles) - Nottingham to LoughboroughLoughboroughLoughborough is a town within the Charnwood borough of Leicestershire, England. It is the seat of Charnwood Borough Council and is home to Loughborough University...
– (15 miles) - Loughborough to LeicesterLeicesterLeicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
– (11¼ miles) - Leicester to Market HarboroughMarket HarboroughMarket Harborough is a market town within the Harborough district of Leicestershire, England.It has a population of 20,785 and is the administrative headquarters of Harborough District Council. It sits on the Northamptonshire-Leicestershire border...
– (14½ miles) - Market Harborough to NorthamptonNorthamptonNorthampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
– (14½ miles) - Northampton to BedfordBedfordBedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, in the East of England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the wider Borough of Bedford. According to the former Bedfordshire County Council's estimates, the town had a population of 79,190 in mid 2005, with 19,720 in the adjacent town...
– (21 miles) - Bedford to LutonLutonLuton is a large town and unitary authority of Bedfordshire, England, 30 miles north of London. Luton and its near neighbours, Dunstable and Houghton Regis, form the Luton/Dunstable Urban Area with a population of about 250,000....
– (19 miles) - Luton to St AlbansSt AlbansSt Albans is a city in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London, which forms the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans. It is a historic market town, and is now a sought-after dormitory town within the London commuter belt...
– (10¼ miles) - St Albans to EdmontonEdmonton, LondonEdmonton is an area in the east of the London Borough of Enfield, England, north-north-east of Charing Cross. It has a long history as a settlement distinct from Enfield.-Location:...
– (11 miles) - Edmonton to Marble ArchMarble ArchMarble Arch is a white Carrara marble monument that now stands on a large traffic island at the junction of Oxford Street, Park Lane, and Edgware Road, almost directly opposite Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park in London, England...
, London (8½ miles)
Impact and aftermath
The marchers arrived in London on 31 October, almost a month after leaving. The total number of signatures on the petition was 12,000, and was handed into Parliament by Wilkinson. The Prime MinisterPrime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
of the day, Stanley Baldwin
Stanley Baldwin
Stanley Baldwin, 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley, KG, PC was a British Conservative politician, who dominated the government in his country between the two world wars...
, refused to see any of the marchers' representatives, claiming it would set a dangerous precedent (British House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
Adjournment Debate, 11 November 1936, Hansard
Hansard
Hansard is the name of the printed transcripts of parliamentary debates in the Westminster system of government. It is named after Thomas Curson Hansard, an early printer and publisher of these transcripts.-Origins:...
vol 317 cc 957-1011). The marchers generally received sympathy, though no proposal was made to help Jarrow, despite the petition being accepted in the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
– with a single simple sentence
Simple sentence
A simple sentence is a sentence structure that contains one independent clause and no dependent clauses.-Examples:*The runner jumped....
of announcement, after which the House of Commons went back to their previous business. The march was also discussed at Prime Minister's Questions in the British House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
on 5 November 1936 (Hansard
Hansard
Hansard is the name of the printed transcripts of parliamentary debates in the Westminster system of government. It is named after Thomas Curson Hansard, an early printer and publisher of these transcripts.-Origins:...
vol 317 cc 234-5).
It was not until two years after the Jarrow March, in 1938, that a ship breaking
Ship breaking
Ship breaking or ship demolition is a type of ship disposal involving the breaking up of ships for scrap recycling. Most ships have a lifespan of a few decades before there is so much wear that refitting and repair becomes uneconomical. Ship breaking allows materials from the ship, especially...
yard and engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
works were established in Jarrow. The next year, a steelworks was established. However the depression continued in Jarrow until after the beginning of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in September 1939, when industrial production increased due to the nation's need for re-armament.
The Jarrow March is fondly remembered by those on the left
Left-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
in British politics as a landmark in the history of labour movement, even though the Labour Party of the day opposed it, and the Trades Union Congress
Trades Union Congress
The Trades Union Congress is a national trade union centre, a federation of trade unions in the United Kingdom, representing the majority of trade unions...
circularised Trades Councils advising them not to help the marchers.
The last surviving member of the march, Cornelius Whalen, died on 14 September 2003, at 93.
Go North East
Go North East is the largest operator of bus services in North East England, United Kingdom. Go North East operates services in the counties of Tyne and Wear, County Durham and Northumberland...
made a tribute bus called the Crusader 27/27A as an honour. From June 2010 the 27A was withdrawn and replaced by the 27 and runs up to every 10 mins between Newcastle and South Shields
For the 75th anniversary in October 2011, Youth Fight for Jobs
Youth Fight for Jobs
Youth Fight for Jobs is a campaigning youth organisation based across England, Scotland and Wales backed by 7 national British trade unions the PCS, RMT, the CWU, Unite, UCU, TSSA and BECTU as well as individual trade union branches, student unions and labour movement figures.-Foundation:Youth...
plan to recreate the march to highlight record levels of youth unemployment.
External links
- The Jarrow Crusade – a series of BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
articles on the Jarrow March