The Air of Freedom - the Derbyshire Boot and Shoemakers' Strike 1918-20

In summer 2020 WCML was due to be hosting a guest exhibition to mark the centenary of an extraordinary strike in two Derbyshire villages that started during the war in 1918 and lasted for over two years. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak this was not possible, so the library presents this online exhibition of images about the strike instead.

The 1918-1920 strike by boot and shoemakers in Stoney Middleton and Eyam lasted for over two years. The companies were significant local employers, especially of women. One factory produced boots for the army in WW1. To find out more about why the workers took strike action and how the strike reflected the nationwide social upheaval of the time, head to www.youtube.com/wcmlibrary to view an online talk given by Steve Bond on 1 July 2020, which tells the 'Air of Freedom' story.

This is a description of an online resource . Online Resources are websites that describe, interpret and provide access to archives. They often provide access to digital content but they may also describe physical materials. They usually cover a theme or topic, such as an individual, a movement, or an important historical event.

Access this resource online: https://www.wcml.org.uk/AirOfFreedom

The library also holds a collection of material related to the National Union of Boot and Shoe Operatives and our website gives a description of the Boot and Shoe industry ( wcml.org.uk/our-collections/working-lives/footwear-hosiery-and-knitwear-trades )