Kmflett's Blog

Haringey in the 1926 General Strike

Special constables in Hornsey being issued with truncheons (Getty)

Haringey of course did not exist in 1926. Rather three separate areas: Hornsey, Wood Green and Tottenham comprised what is now a London Borough.

Labour movement wise they also had separate Trades Councils.

For Tottenham there is the first issue of the Trades Council strike bulletin (12^th May) its comparatively late date in the strike reflecting the point that more people were joining the action at this point. Aside from a general message of solidarity there is also some national news as there were of course no papers and this was before the age of broadcast media with the exception of BBC radio.

There is also a note of a telephone message to the TUC alerting them to plans of a scab bus operation.

The Wood Green and Southgate TUC wrote to the TUC General Secretary Citrine reporting that an entertainments committee had been formed to give strikers something to occupy their day with. On 7^th May a further note to Citrine noted that a strike bulletin was being produced twice daily and notes to speakers had been circulated.

The HQ of the strike in Wood Green was at Stuart Crescent and in Tottenham at 7 Bruce Grove(the Trades Hall).

Tottenham Council which even then was Labour controlled refused to participate in the recruitment of special constables much to the annoyance of the authorities.

In Hornsey by contrast there are pictures of truncheons being handed to special constables and one of said constables going out on patrol in an open top car. Whether this was because the strike in Hornsey required more active policing or because the area had more volunteer strike breakers is unclear.

We do know however that the TUC was informed that a scab evening paper had been produced

A lot of interesting detail on the General Strike in the area is at this link (scroll down to the London section) but there is still much scope for further research, perhaps particularly on the aftermath of the strike in the area

http://www.alphabetthreat.co.uk/pasttense/general%20strike%20roundup.html