LONDON RADICAL HISTORIES

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  • Today in dole history, 1835: The Chesham Workhouse Riot

    Mostly a London history blog, we extended our definition of ‘London’ to ‘everything inside the M25’ a while back… … here we extend a few miles outside it. So the Metropolis is growing, yeah? Watch out, Hampshire. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@   The New Poor Law was brought in in 1834, to completely replace earlier legislation based on…

  • A Short History of UK Public Order Acts – Coronation Special

    The Public Order Act into law just a week ago on May 2nd has already aroused some controversy, with the first arrests under its provisions – of members of the anti-monarchist campaigning group Republic while preparing to demonstrate in protest at the coronation of Charles Windsor, as well as the nicking of three workers for…

  • This week in London radical history, 1987: benefit claimants occupy Town Halls demanding money during dole office strike

    Members of the CPSA civil servants’ union (the forerunner of today’s PCS) went on strike in May 1987 for a pay rise. As a result, dole offices were closed, and benefit claimants weren’t able to sign on or receive their girocheques (for younger readers, this was your benefit paid by a green cheque that either…

  • Today in London festive history: the May Fair

    The May Fair was held every year around at Great Brookfield (now part of Curzon Street and Shepherd Market) from 1–14 May. It had been established during the reign of Edward I, that king having granted a charter to the hospital of St. James’s to hold a fundraising fair “on the eve of St. James’,…

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the past sure is tense

Past Tense is a publishing project based in London, exploring London radical histories, geographies, the past, present, the future…

LONDON RADICAL HISTORIES

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