Catalogue Number
NMLH.1998.24.AEEU.1
Object Name
Banner
Title
'In God is all our hope. The noblest motive is the publick good. Justitia Pax.'
Place
UK
People
Plumbers Union, Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union
Date
1832
Description
This banner shows an emblem of a yellow shield with four plumbers tools. Atop the shield is the female figure of Justice. Below the shield is the motto 'In God is all our hope', and yellow text on the blue edge of the banner reads ''The noblest motive is the publick good'.
Central panel of plumber's trade society banner. Although the phrase 'trade union' had existed for over eight years by 1830, trade society names and noble, civil mottos were a common feature on skilled workers' banners well into the 19th century. The name of this particular plumber's society was not given on this banner, so we do not know if it was produced by a local, regional or national organization. Pride in the plumber's craft figures largely in this banner. The shield shows the plumb line, mallet, plumber's dresser, plumb square, grozing iron, hacking knife and plumber's soldering iron.
Along with the Dunns shoemakers banner this was made by workers to celebrate the final passing of the Reform Act in 1832. But these processions ended in disappointment when the details of the act were received with the new franchise based on property qualification leading to a narrow electorate which excluded working class men. It is likely that this banner was constructed from a smaller wall or table hanging used by this local Plumbers trade society in its secret meetings and then simply sewn onto a large blue sheet. It was a case of it literally emerging from an underground existence into being part of the new and increasingly confident working class. The new motto on the blue sheet 'The Noble Motive is the Publick Good' is typical of the uplifting messages which the society was attempting to convey. At some point, probably late 19th century, someone has tried to erase the K of public, but this has been retained by the PHM's conservators. The donor John Lloyd, a former PHM trustee
and Electrical Trades Union member, thought that the banner may have originated in Cumbria and this is quite possible given that pro-Reform meetings involving trade societies occurred all over Britain.
**ON DISPLAY**
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