Chookie
04-08-2008, 08:33 PM
In Glasgow, before the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinad, which has been widely touted as being the primary cause of WW1, there were a large number of empty houses, by the second year of this war (1915) all were occupied by incoming workers to the munitions and allied war industries. A shortage of workers and materials saw a lack of maintenance and the housing stock deteriorate rapidly. In this year, landlords tried to implement large rent increases, at risk were 7,000 pensioners and families whose men were fighting in France.
This occasioned the formation of the "Glasgow Women's Housing Association" and many local "Women's Housing Associations" to resist the increases. All kind of peaceful activities were used to prevent evictions and drive out the Sheriff's officers. There were constant meetings in an attempt to be one step ahead of the Sheriff's officers. All manner of communication was used to summon help, everything from drums, bells, trumpets and anything that could be used to create a warning sound to rally the supporters who were mainly women as those men who were not serving in the armies of the British Empire were at work in the yards and factories at these times, these men, however, were did not have it easy.
While their compatriots, brothers, cousins and, in some cases, fathers were fighting and dying for God, King and Country, the men who were working in the war industries were being paid starvation wages - this was in order to “finance the war effort”. These men were working their arses off to support the “war effort”, this meant that the women of Glasgow would be the focal point of the unrest.
Possibly the most notable of these women were Mary Barbour, Agnes Dollan and Helen Crawfurd who were the prime movers behind the Women's Peace Crusade. This was in 1916, but Mrs Barbour had come to prominence the year before in what would come to be called “The Glasgow Rent Strike”.
During this “strike” all manner of peaceful resistance, not including violence, was used to summon help, everything from drums, bells, trumpets and anything that could be used to create a warning sound to rally the supporters who were mainly women - they became known as "Mrs Barbours' Army" - as the men were at work in the yards and factories at these times. They would then indulge in cramming into closes and stairs to prevent the entry of the Sheriff's officers and so prevent them from carrying out their evictions. They also used little paper bags of flour, peasmeal and whiting as missiles directed at the bowler hatted officers. These activities culminated on the 17th of November 1915 with the massive demonstration and march of thousands through the city streets and on to the Glasgow Sheriff's Court. This resulted in the immediate implementation of the "1915 Rent Restriction Act" which benefited tenants across the country. This resulted in the immediate implementation of the "1915 Rent Restriction Act" which benefited tenants across the country. The Rent Act was to run for 6 months after the war. However immediately after the war the Glasgow Property and Factors' Association demanded large rent increases.
The rent strike was not led by any one person or group. This was a genuine popular struggle involving; women, housewives, the "National Unemployed Workers Movement", militants, organised vigilantes, propagandists and housing associations. It was, however, sucessful.
Mary Barbour became, in 1920, the first Labour Councillor in Glasgow, her policies included such such things as washhouses, laundries and public baths, free milk to school children, child welfare centres, play areas, pensions for mothers, home helps and municipal banks, she also pushed for a campaign against consumption.
In 1924 she became the first woman to serve as a Baillie of Glasgow Corporation, she was also appointed as one of the first woman magistrates in Scotland. Her council work allowed her to develop her commitment to the welfare of women and children. In 1925 she was chairperson of the Women's Welfare and Advisory Clinic, Glasgow's first family planning centre.
At the age of 83 she died on the 2nd of April 1958. Her funeral took place at Craigton Crematorium in Govan.
This occasioned the formation of the "Glasgow Women's Housing Association" and many local "Women's Housing Associations" to resist the increases. All kind of peaceful activities were used to prevent evictions and drive out the Sheriff's officers. There were constant meetings in an attempt to be one step ahead of the Sheriff's officers. All manner of communication was used to summon help, everything from drums, bells, trumpets and anything that could be used to create a warning sound to rally the supporters who were mainly women as those men who were not serving in the armies of the British Empire were at work in the yards and factories at these times, these men, however, were did not have it easy.
While their compatriots, brothers, cousins and, in some cases, fathers were fighting and dying for God, King and Country, the men who were working in the war industries were being paid starvation wages - this was in order to “finance the war effort”. These men were working their arses off to support the “war effort”, this meant that the women of Glasgow would be the focal point of the unrest.
Possibly the most notable of these women were Mary Barbour, Agnes Dollan and Helen Crawfurd who were the prime movers behind the Women's Peace Crusade. This was in 1916, but Mrs Barbour had come to prominence the year before in what would come to be called “The Glasgow Rent Strike”.
During this “strike” all manner of peaceful resistance, not including violence, was used to summon help, everything from drums, bells, trumpets and anything that could be used to create a warning sound to rally the supporters who were mainly women - they became known as "Mrs Barbours' Army" - as the men were at work in the yards and factories at these times. They would then indulge in cramming into closes and stairs to prevent the entry of the Sheriff's officers and so prevent them from carrying out their evictions. They also used little paper bags of flour, peasmeal and whiting as missiles directed at the bowler hatted officers. These activities culminated on the 17th of November 1915 with the massive demonstration and march of thousands through the city streets and on to the Glasgow Sheriff's Court. This resulted in the immediate implementation of the "1915 Rent Restriction Act" which benefited tenants across the country. This resulted in the immediate implementation of the "1915 Rent Restriction Act" which benefited tenants across the country. The Rent Act was to run for 6 months after the war. However immediately after the war the Glasgow Property and Factors' Association demanded large rent increases.
The rent strike was not led by any one person or group. This was a genuine popular struggle involving; women, housewives, the "National Unemployed Workers Movement", militants, organised vigilantes, propagandists and housing associations. It was, however, sucessful.
Mary Barbour became, in 1920, the first Labour Councillor in Glasgow, her policies included such such things as washhouses, laundries and public baths, free milk to school children, child welfare centres, play areas, pensions for mothers, home helps and municipal banks, she also pushed for a campaign against consumption.
In 1924 she became the first woman to serve as a Baillie of Glasgow Corporation, she was also appointed as one of the first woman magistrates in Scotland. Her council work allowed her to develop her commitment to the welfare of women and children. In 1925 she was chairperson of the Women's Welfare and Advisory Clinic, Glasgow's first family planning centre.
At the age of 83 she died on the 2nd of April 1958. Her funeral took place at Craigton Crematorium in Govan.