Catalogue Number
NBS I/D 1740
Object Name
banner
Title
THE BATTLES WON - BRITANNIAS SONS ARE FREE AND DESPOTS TREMBLE AT THE VICTORY. ST. CRISPIN. WE ARE ALL TRUE TO THE LAST.
Place
Duns; Borders; Scotland; UK
People
St Crispin & workers: shoemakers; cobblers
Events
Passing of Parliamentary Reform Bill, 1832
Date
circa 1832
Creator(s)
NBS National Museum of Labour HistoryNBS National Museum of Labour History
Description
Shoemakers banner, c. 1832
Prior to 1832 very few people in the UK had the right to vote; following years of increasing pressure for reform, Parliament finally passed the 'Great Reform Act'. Many working-class people and organisations expected a large increase to the franchise, and great celebrations took place around the country. But in reality only some middle class people were given the right to vote - most men and all women were still excluded.
This banner was created by a shoemaker trade society for one of these celebrations, in Duns in Berwickshire. There would likely not have been more than a couple of dozen shoemakers in Duns, but they still organised themselves into a trade society, an early form of trade union. These societies were active in the movement for the Reform, and this banner shows a celebration of the Act and the contribution of the society to its passing.
The banner shows similar images on both sides, with two idealised customers standing beside a crest containing a crown atop a half-moon knife - the shoemakers most important tool. The crown represents Saint Crispin, the patron saint of shoemakers. Above the image reads "The battle's won, Britannia's sons are free and despots tremble at the victory" and below the crest reads "We are all true to the last". A last is another tool used by shoemakers, so this is actually a bit of a pun. The image also includes the Scottish thistle, English rose and Irish shamrock, placing the society within the political body of the nation - though any image showing Wales is missing.
Materials: Single layer of plain woven cotton with glazed moire finish. Similar oil painted image on each side.
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