It was ‘an inspiration to other groups of workers up and down the country’.

In the summer of 1888, 1400 women walked out on strike over management bullying and appalling, hazardous working conditions.

The strike was caused by the poor working conditions in a match factory, conditions including fourteen-hour work days, poor pay, excessive fines and the severe health complications of working with white phosphorus, such as phossy jaw, but it was sparked by the dismissal of one of the workers.