On Tuesday 11 May 1926 – ‘the battle of Lewes Road’ took place – a violent clash during the British general strike of 1926 between over 300 foot police and 50 mounted ‘special constables’ and up to 4,000 strikers, trade unionists and their supporters trying to stop strike breakers training at the tram depot in Lewes Road in Brighton (now the bus garage / Brighton Electric). There were 17 arrests on the day and two cases of serious injury, and the brutality meted out towards those peacefully protesting lived on long in the collective memory of Brighton’s labour movement.  The ‘battle of Lewes road’ has become part of the social history of Brighton and so on the centenary of the event in May 2026 deserves commemoration.

In a campaign supported by Brighton and Hove District Trades Union Council, we plan the following events to help commemorate The Battle of Lewes Road.

1)Raise £1500 to put up a blue plaque to commemorate the ‘Battle of Lewes Road’, ideally to be installed at Tramway House itself in May 2026 to mark the centenary – see the crwodfunder here  https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/plaque-for-the-battle-of-lewes-road-brighton-1926

2) We are also planning a commemorative event to remember the general strike of 1926 and its impact in Brighton in May 2026 at which we hope the unveiling of the blue plaque will be the highlight – this will take place at the University of Brighton – Mithras House, Lewes Road, BN2 4AT on Saturday 9 May 2026 – with an evening event at Brighton Electric.

3) An event at Brighton Electric on the anniversary of The Battle of Lewes Road on Monday 11 May 2026.

4) The republication of two classic pamphlets about The Battle of Lewes Road from the 1970s by Ernie Trory and Andy Durr in conjunction with the Socialist History Society.

For more information, please email Dr Christian Hogsbjerg – c.hogsbjerg@brighton.ac.uk

See also the national commemorative events to mark the centenary of the general strike in Britain in 1926 – details here

https://generalstrike100.com/