Object handling – The 1926 General Strike

In May 1926, the General Strike brought much of Britain to a halt, raising questions about authority, solidarity, and public order. This drop-in object handling session invites visitors to explore those questions through a selection of objects connected to policing during the strike, including a Special Constable’s armband, a truncheon from Bradford, printers’ blocks, and period photographs.

Through close looking and discussion, the session considers how the state responded to a moment of national crisis and how ideas of duty, control, and public service were shaped in practice. It also encourages reflection on why the General Strike still matters today, particularly in relation to protest, policing, and the long memory of industrial conflict.

Session: 30 June, 11 am to 2 pm – in the chapel gallery at the Prison & Police Museum.