Catalogue Number
NMLH.2003.16.31
Object Name
Mug
Title
'Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp set up on September 5th 1981 to protest against the siting of Cruise Missiles at the American Base, Greenham Common.'
Place
Greenham Common, Acton, London, England, UK
People
Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp
Events
Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp
Creator(s)
Kenton, LouActon C.N.D. (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament)
Description
White ceramic mug with text and design in purple and green. Main design depicts peace camp logo and a series of silhouetted women holding hands. A Venus/woman symbol has had it's circle turned into a CND peace logo. There is text on the mug about the Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp.
The Women's Peace Camp was an attempt to draw public attention and pressure to have the American Cruise missiles stored at RAF Greenham Common, in Berkshire, removed. During the Cold War, it was feared that increasing armament by either the USA or Soviet Union would antagonise the other side into beginning a nuclear war. The camp began in September 1981, with additional actions including blockades, incursions into the base through the chain fence, and large actions including 'Embrace the Base' in December 1982 where thirty thousand women surrounded RAF Greenham Common, and the forming of a human chain of seventy thousand people between the base and a munitions factory 14 miles away in April 1983. The last cruise missiles was removed from the base in 1991, following a treaty between the USA and Soviet Union, but the camp remained until September 2000, converting their purpose to opposing the UK's Trident Weapons programme.
There were nine camps at Greenham, named for different colours - each with a different focus including Blue Gate which was involved in the New Age counter-culture, Violet Gate which had a religious focus, and Green Gate which was women-only and didn't allow male visitors. Some of the women remained in the camp for the full 19 years of its existence. There is now a memorial to the camp at the site.
