The Jarrow March: A Journey for Jobs and Justice

The Jarrow March was a pivotal event in British history, taking place in 1936. It was a 260-mile journey from Jarrow, a town in northeast England, to London.

The march was a protest against unemployment, which had ravaged the town's economy. In 1935, the town's shipyard, which had been the main source of employment, closed, leaving thousands of people without jobs.

The marchers, led by a group of local politicians and trade unionists, set out on October 5, 1936, with a clear goal: to draw attention to the plight of Jarrow's unemployed and to demand action from the government.

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The closure of Palmer's shipyard was a major contributor to the economic struggles of Jarrow. In 1930, the shipyard launched its thousandth ship, but the brief shipbuilding boom was soon ended by the Great Depression, leaving the yard with no new orders.

The government's creation of National Shipbuilders Security Ltd (NSS) in 1930 further worsened the situation, as it aimed to acquire failing yards and concentrate production in a smaller number of profitable yards. This meant that the closed yards, including Palmer's, were banned from any shipbuilding activity for at least 40 years.

The loss of Palmer's shipyard had a devastating impact on the town, with unemployment rates soaring to over 70 percent and the infant mortality rate becoming the highest in the country. The town's economy was decimated, and the people of Jarrow were left struggling to make ends meet.

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The Jarrow Crusade was a pivotal moment in British history, highlighting the struggles of working-class people during the interwar period. This march, which took place in 1936, was a desperate attempt by 200 unemployed men from Jarrow to bring attention to their plight and demand government intervention.

Unemployment rates in Britain were staggering, with over 10% of the workforce without jobs by the end of the 1920s. In areas like the north of England, where traditional industries like coal mining and shipbuilding were in decline, unemployment soared to over 20%. The concentration of these industries in specific regions meant that some areas were disproportionately affected.

The Jarrow Crusaders' march was a testament to the determination of the working class to be heard. They walked over 290 miles from Jarrow to London, presenting a petition signed by nearly 12,000 residents calling for government action. Despite their efforts, the government remained unresponsive, leaving the marchers to return to Jarrow with little more than their train fare.

Unemployment rates in Jarrow itself were particularly dire, with over 70% of the town's residents out of work. The closure of Palmer's shipyard, which had once employed 10,000 men, was a major factor in the town's economic decline. The subsequent failure to establish a steelworks on the site only exacerbated the problem.

The Jarrow Crusade was not just a local issue; it was a national concern. The marchers' determination to be heard and their creative use of public awareness campaigns helped to bring attention to the plight of working-class people across Britain. Their efforts ultimately contributed to a shift in the political consensus, paving the way for the establishment of the welfare state.

Here's a breakdown of the unemployment rates in Britain during the 1920s and 1930s:

The Jarrow Crusade was a powerful reminder of the need for government action to address the economic struggles of working-class people.

The closure of Palmer's shipyard was a pivotal moment in the town's history. On 24 July 1930, Palmer's launched its thousandth ship, the tanker Peter Hurll, but this was short-lived as the Great Depression had already ended the brief shipbuilding boom.

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The government created National Shipbuilders Security Ltd (NSS) in 1930 to assist shipbuilders by acquiring failing yards and dismantling them. This move gave the workforce cause for anxiety, which deepened with the formation of NSS.

The Admiralty's order for two destroyers kept Palmer's working until mid-1932, but the yard was insolvent by then. Palmer's retained a faint hope of further naval contracts, but these failed to materialise.

In June 1933, the firm's creditors appointed a receiver, and by December 1933, NSS interest in the yard was appearing in the press. Walter Runciman, the President of the Board of Trade, told members that there was nothing to be gained by giving Jarrow the impression that Palmer's could be revived.

NSS acquired the yard, closed it, and began to dismantle its plant in the early summer of 1934. The only sound to compete with the unfamiliar noise of the marsh birds was the ring of the breakers' hammers, according to Blythe.

Sir John Jarvis, the prospective Conservative candidate for Guildford, attempted to offer some relief to the town by announcing the "adoption" of Jarrow by the county of Surrey.

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The Jarrow March was a remarkable event that brought attention to the struggles of the working-class communities in the north of England. The march was sparked by the closure of the steelworks in Jarrow, which had left many people without jobs.

David Riley, the chairman of Jarrow Borough Council, proposed a bold idea: to march 200 fit men from Jarrow to London to present a petition to the House of Commons. The march was planned to coincide with the start of the new parliamentary session on November 3, 1936.

The marchers' goal was to highlight the specific issues affecting their community, rather than to make a broader political statement. This approach was reflected in their decision to limit the march to 200 men and to reject donations from political groups.

The marchers' route took them through various towns and cities, with each stage averaging around 12-17 miles per day. Here's a breakdown of the march's route:

The marchers' determination and perseverance ultimately led to the presentation of their petition to the House of Commons, bringing attention to the struggles of the working-class communities in the north of England.

Councillor David Riley, chair of the Jarrow council, and Ellen Wilkinson, MP for Jarrow, led the march.

The Jarrow Crusaders consisted of 200 unemployed men who were chosen by the council after a medical examination to ensure they were fit for the journey.

A statue commissioned by Morrisons sits outside its store in Jarrow, commemorating the marchers.

Many marchers have become anonymous, with only the leaders remembered by name.

Ellen Wilkinson was a remarkable woman who played a pivotal role in Jarrow's history. She was from a working-class family and had won a scholarship to study History at university.

Ellen became MP for Middlesbrough East in 1923 and was elected MP for Jarrow in 1935. She was one of four women MPs in the government at the time.

Ellen was deeply involved in Jarrow's community, leading protests and establishing herself within its fabric. During her time as MP for Jarrow, she was outspoken in the House of Commons.

In 1934, Ellen led a deputation of unemployed men from Jarrow to meet the prime minister, Ramsay MacDonald. This bold move drew attention to the plight of Jarrow.

Ellen even walked part of the way with the marchers to help attract attention to their cause. She presented their petition to Parliament on 4 November, a testament to her dedication to the community.

Ellen's legacy lives on in Jarrow, where a statue commissioned by Morrisons supermarket chain sits outside its store in Jarrow.

The Jarrow Crusaders were a group of 200 unemployed men who put their names forward to be part of the march.

Each of these men was medically examined to ensure they were fit enough for the journey.

Many of the marchers remain anonymous, with only a few leaders remembered by name.

A 2016 documentary, "Who Were the Marchers?", was made to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Jarrow Crusade and shed some light on the lives of these forgotten men.

The Jarrow March was a pivotal event that aimed to draw attention to the dire economic situation in Jarrow, with 12,000 people signing a petition demanding a new steelworks.

The marchers carried a petition to the Government, hoping for a solution to the widespread unemployment and poverty in Jarrow. This was in response to the closure of Palmer's Shipyard, which had been the main source of employment.

The lack of jobs had worsened poverty and malnutrition, already felt from the worldwide depression. This was a stark reality that the marchers hoped to bring to the attention of the Government.

The marchers had been popular with people along the route and the press, but few people attended their demonstration at Hyde Park Corner on 1 November. Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin was apparently 'too busy' to meet the deputation of men on their arrival.

Despite initial disappointment, the marchers returned home to a heroes' welcome. However, the march produced few immediate results, with no proposal made to help Jarrow.

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It wasn't until years later that the Jarrow March was recognised as a defining event of the 1930s. It helped to foster a change in attitudes, which paved the way for improved working conditions.

Jarrow eventually saw some new industry openings, with a ship-breaking yard and engineering works established in 1938 and the Consett Iron Company starting a steelworks in 1939. This marked a turning point for the town, bringing much-needed jobs and economic growth.

The Jarrow March was a pivotal moment in British history, and its legacy lives on today.

In October 1936, 200 men marched 290 miles from Jarrow to London to demand an end to unemployment and poverty.

Their efforts were unsuccessful, but their fight against injustice remains as relevant as ever.

The marchers returned to Jarrow to find a town decimated by unemployment, with rates standing at over 70 percent.

The infant mortality rate in Jarrow was also the highest in the country at the time.

The march was planned as a means of bringing the tribulations faced by Jarrow to the attention of wider society.

The marchers presented a petition signed by nearly 12,000 Jarrow residents to the government in London.

The march was a non-political event, but the marchers held daily rallies to spread awareness of their cause.

The march captured the country's imagination, with the name of Jarrow plastered over the nation's newspapers for weeks.

The marchers' determined stand contributed to a sea change in the political consensus that brought about the welfare state.

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Jarrow still bears the scars of being on the wrong end of class society, as described by Matt Perry.

The North East is the 'child poverty capital' of the UK, according to recent research from the Nuffield Foundation.

South Tyneside, the Local Authority in which Jarrow is situated, is the 12th most deprived in England, with an unemployment rate well above the national average.

High unemployment is still a major issue in Jarrow, with an unemployment rate that hasn't changed much over the years.

The same struggles that Jarrow faced during the Depression era still exist today, including inequalities around health.

The government's attitude to the injustice and hardship faced in communities like Jarrow is still indifferent, as pointed out by Kate Osborne, Jarrow's current MP.

The Jarrow march is still remembered and celebrated by the people of Jarrow and the surrounding area, who take pride in its significance to the labour movement.