The Griffin (then the Land of Cakes) in more recent times
The National Charter Association, the first working class party anywhere in the world, was formed at a delegate meeting which began 184 years ago this week on 20th July 1840.
The NCA provided an organised structure to attempts to win the vote for working men around the Six Points of the People’s Charter.
It had an elected provisional Executive, a branch structure with a paid membership. It lasted until 1860.
The meeting took place in the Griffin pub in Great Ancoats St, Manchester. The pub dated from 1791 and was closed in 2005 by which time it was known as the Land O Cakes. It is now the Bem Brasil restaurant*
Perhaps typically of how much of Britain’s working class history is either forgotten or not remembered at all I don’t believe there is any current plaque on or near the spot to mark the event
- thanks to @gwilty200 for info on what the pub is now
The Charter itself certainly existed before this date: the armed insurrection in Newport was in 1839. I am guessing that this meeting in 1840 was to formalise an already-existing informal structure?