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Forged in class struggle
As the labour movement celebrates the Chainmakers’ Festival this weekend, the Star charts the dramatic course of events as the women workers of Cradley Heath battled for a decent wage

During the 19th century most production of large chains had become industrialised.

But what was often known as “small chain” industry, for agricultural or domestic use, was almost exclusively carried out in the home or a back garden shed.

Much of their manufacture was performed in tiny workshops, mostly by women and young girls and usually hand-worked by women who were largely non-unionised and their treatment bordered on the abusive. Over the years small chainmaking became increasingly focused in Cradley Heath in the West Midlands. 

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