2026 Year 6 Second Prize
In 1888, a long time ago by Grace
In 1888, a long time ago,
There stood a match factory on a road named Bow.
In that factory worked a few hundred girls,
Who spent their time dipping matches in phosphorous.
Which was really quite preposterous
Because phosphorous caused phossy jaw
Which made it hard to gnaw
So they didn’t get enough nutrition
And they couldn’t afford to see a physician.
If they needed the loo during the day,
Then they’d be deprived of their rightful pay.
But one day, a woman named Annie Besant
Described the factory as unpleasant.
And when the matchgirls went on strike,
She supported them through the fight.
Every girl marched down the road united
Like a chain as they released their feelings they couldn’t
contain.
Their words burst out and came down like rain
Until the factory promised a change.
July 2026 saw the 138th anniversary of the Matchgirls Strike. On 10th July, to mark the occasion, The Matchgirls Memorial were hosted at the Tower Hamlets Local History Library and Archives to present prizes of the annual Schools Matchgirls Poetry Competition.
Prizes were presented to the winners of this years school poetry competition from both Blue Gate Fields Junior School and William Patten Primary School. Our judges this year were Dr Anna Robinson and Fawzia Kane.
Grace won Second Prize in the Year 6 category with the poem, 'In 1888, a long time ago'.