***PLEASE BE AWARE THIS EVENT HAS HAD TO BE POSTPONED DUE TO AN ACCESS ISSUE AT THE SITE. PLEASE CHECK BACK FOR UPDATES. THANK YOU (12/5/24)***
A long-planned blue plaque for a Bradford woman who pioneered workers’ and women’s rights will be unveiled in the city centre on Saturday 18 May.
Julia Varley OBE was a prominent campaigner for workers’ rights during the city’s early 20th Century industrial boom. She was a key figure in the infamous Manningham Mills strikes, as well as being involved in the formation of the Independent Labour Party in Bradford. Varley campaigned for better wages for workers, and was a leading figure in Bradford Trades Council.
As a suffragette she struggled for the Rights of Women to vote and was twice sent to prison for her commitment.
She later worked across and the Midlands and West Country inspiring thousands to join the trade union movement.
Her blue plaque will be situated on the former Trades Council building, on Sunbridge Road.
Varley died in Bradford in 1952 and her final resting place can be found in Undercliffe Cemetery:
Julia Varley’s blue plaque was funded by UNITE the Union and is the final plaque in Bradford Civic Society’s current Great Women of Bradford series.
Following this latest unveiling, Bradford Civic Society’s blue plaque scheme will take a short pause while Historic England pilots its national blue plaque scheme in the city.
The Julia Varley event will take place at 1pm on Saturday 18 May, at the junction of Sackville Street and Sunbridge Road, with speeches from local politicians and national trade union figures.
***PLEASE BE AWARE THIS EVENT HAS HAD TO BE POSTPONED DUE TO AN ACCESS ISSUE AT THE SITE. PLEASE CHECK BACK FOR UPDATES. THANK YOU (12/5/24)***
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