The Workers' Institute Sponsor-A-Brick Campaign
In 1910 the women chainmakers of Cradley Heath embarked upon a ten week lock-out, led by the great trade unionist, Mary Macarthur. The women's campaign and their ultimate victory would establish the beginnings of Britain's minimum wage movement and their strike attracted international support raising almost £3,000 in strike funds - some of which was used to create the Cradley Heath Workers' Institute.
Opened in 1912, the building stood for almost a century as a landmark to Midlands trade union history, the last tangible reminder of the women chainmakers victory. But, when plans for a by-pass were announced, its future looked bleak until the Black Country Living Museum stepped in to rescue the building by re-locating it to the Museum's 26 acre open-air site in Dudley.
Rebuilt the Workers' Institute will house major new exhibitions and displays enabling for the first time, the story of women and trade unionism and region's labour history to be told, communicating this history to the widest possible audience.
Help us today by investing in a piece of industrial heritage, one which transformed the lives of thousands of workers across the country. For just £10 you can buy a piece of history and help this building come alive once more - with only 7,500 bricks left to rebuild, we need your help, now.
Please download, print off, complete and return this form (PDF 182Kb)
For more information on how you can help the fundraising work of the Black Country Living Museum, contact the Streets Ahead campaign office:
Streets Ahead campaign office