Caught red-handed

To take full advantage of Flickr, you should use a JavaScript-enabled browser and
install the latest version of the Macromedia Flash Player.

View Ayres no graces' map

Taken in a place with no name (See more photos or videos here)

A statue of British Prime Minister William Gladstone in Bow, East London. The statue was paid for by Theodore Bryant, owner of the match factory in Bow. The hand is daubed red in memory of the women who died from phosphorus poisoning in the factory, and to symbolise the way that Bryant recouped the cost of the statue.

Contemporary campaigner Annie Bessant takes up the story;
"A very bitter memory survives in the factory. Mr Theodore Bryant, to show his admiration of Mr Gladstone and the greatness of his own public spirit, bethought him to erect a statue to that eminent statesman. In order that his workgirls might have the privilege of contributing, he stopped 1s. each out of their wages, and further deprived them of half-a-day's work by closing the factory, "giving them a holiday". ("We don't want no holidays", said one of the girls pathetically, for - needless to say - the poorer employees of such a firm lose their wages when a holiday is "given".) So furious were the girls at this cruel plundering, that many went to the unveiling of the statue with stones and bricks in their pockets, and I was conscious of a wish that some of those bricks had made an impression on Mr Bryant's - conscience. Later on they surrounded the statue - "we paid for it" they cried savagely - shouting and yelling, and a gruesome story is told that some cut their arms and let their blood trickle on the marble paid for, in very truth, by their blood."

From white slavery in London by Annie Bessant.

Comments

abstract_effects says:

nice dramatic angle, very effective

TWTME
Posted 2 months ago. ( permalink )

Rooney. says:

Wow. I drive past this statue now and then and I often wonder about the red hand.
Posted 2 months ago. ( permalink )

Would you like to comment?

[?]

	Ayres no graces' photostream
		2,519 uploads

This photo also belongs to:

	1-2-3 (Pool)
		0

	Top 20 History Photos (Pool)
		0

	The World Through My Eyes - Post 1 / Comment Any 1 (Pool)
		0

Additional Information

Some rights reserved Anyone can see this photo

Taken with a Canon EOS 30D.
More properties
Taken on May 11, 2008

1 person calls this photo a favorite

Viewed 27 times

You	Sign in \| Create Your Free Account
Explore	Places \| Last 7 Days \| This Month \| Popular Tags \| The Commons \| Creative Commons \| Search
Help	Community Guidelines \| The Help Forum \| FAQ \| Sitemap \| Help by Email

Caught red-handed

Comments

abstract_effects says:

Rooney. says:

Would you like to comment?

Ayres no graces' photostream

1-2-3 (Pool)

Top 20 History Photos (Pool)

The World Through My Eyes - Post 1 / Comment Any 1 (Pool)

Tags

Additional Information