Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick

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Archives rich in social and political history from the late 19th century onwards.

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"Cable Street was a sight for sore eyes..." Fresh from the streets, this short, vivid account describes the Battle of Cable Street from the perspective of a young activist This edition of Trotskyist journal 'Youth Militant' was published within days of the anti-fascist action on 4 October 1936

Front cover of the Trotskyist publication 'The Youth Militant', 'the fighting journal for socialist youth', October 1936 (then on sale for one pence) [document reference: MSS.15X/1/343/1].Article about the Battle of Cable Street in 'The Youth Militant', October 1936: "THEY SHALL NOT PASS! All who were present in East London on Sunday October 4th, at the great counter demonstration of the workers to Mosley's threatened march, will long remember the scenes they witnessed. Workers, Jewish and Gentile alike, rallied from all parts of London to bar the streets of working class London to the Fascist thugs. At Gardiners Corner a dense mass of workers collected, flooding into the surrounding streets, and voicing their determination that Mosley should not pass. The Fascists had carried their provocating propaganda well into the East End, and in an attempt to invade the streets had called out the mass resistance of the workers. It was obvious that the Fascists could not possibly get through, and the crowd on the whole was apparently perfectly prepared to wait until he tried. The Police however thought otherwise. It seemed that the Police Chiefs were frightened that if their men were allowed to stand about doing nothing they would become demoralised, and in consequence much unnecessary batoning took place. The "Cossacks" in fact did not trouble about trying to push the crowds back with their horses, but came at the crowds with drawn batons on every opportunity. Cable Street was a sight for sore eyes. Barricades made up of anything that came to hand, paving stones torn up, the concrete of the road littered with broken glass, it would have required more than a demonstration to get down that Street. Leman Street - tall and forboding, cordons of Police thrown across the road at regular intervals. 5 policemen swing down the road frogmarching one girl, and protected by about fifteen other cops on foot and some half-dozen cossacks. As they pass an open window a cossack mounts the pavement and shouts at the occupant. Five or six policemen charge through the door and come out in a few minutes with the occupant, struggling furiously..."
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From the 'Safety First' campaigns of the early 20th century onwards, the RoSPA archives are a fantastic source on the history of safety, occupational health and welfare Thanks to the Records at Risk funding scheme for helping to support the transfer of the collection to the MRC!

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There are some fantastic galleries, libraries, archives and museums on Bluesky! Do give one of Cornwall's finest a follow (and check the pack for other fine heritage content to fill your feed)

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School meals! Solid glaring from this child of 1960, as she waits for her dinner to be flung onto a plate The National Union of Teachers' archive is a great source on changing attitudes and campaigns relating to food in schools over the past 100 years

Front cover of 1960 National Union of Teachers' pamphlet on school meals. It is illustrated with a photo of a child glaring at the camera, past the hand of an adult about to fling a lump of mash onto an underwhelming looking dinner.
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Open the rather beige covers of one Trades Union Congress file & you're faced with sketches of servant dreams... In 1938 the National Union of Domestic Workers was formed to campaign for fairer working conditions for servants A faint Cinderella & noticeably narked 'Me' feature in the initial plans

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