Robert Blatchford 1851 - 1943 Robert Peel Glanville Blatchford is most well-known for his involvement in journalism and left wing politics during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in Maidstone, he grew up in Halifax in the 1860s and joined the army as a teenager, becoming a Sergeant Major by the age of 23. He wrote throughout his career with the army, but eventually left to work as a clerk. By 1880 Blatchford had settled in Norwich with his wife Sarah Crossley, and pursued his writing experience though employment with Bell’s Life in London and also the Leeds Toby. In 1885 Blatchford began to write for the Manchester Sunday Chronicle. Whilst living in Manchester Blatchford became actively involved in the Labour movement. He founded the Manchester branch of the Fabian Society and launched a weekly socialist newspaper The Clarion in 1891. The Clarion grew its readership steadily, selling 40,000 copies an issue in its first years to 80,000 by1910.
1. Robert Blatchford
2. The Clarion newspaper header from 1912
The Clarion was not just about selling papers. It supported industrial pursuits and maintained a community through choirs, cycling clubs, socialist scouts and Glee clubs. Blatchford’s influence was spreading and affecting a great number of communities, which were holding the movement together. By 1893 Blatchford had published a run of articles on socialism from The Clarion, in a book entitled Merrie England. Blatchford had strong views on the issues of the day which often affected the readership figures on The Clarion. Blatchford was in full support of the Boer War, which in turn lost him backing from the Labour movement. He also denounced organised religion in such works as God and my Neighbour (1903). His unpopular political views continued when he announced his backing for Britain’s involvement in the First World War, although many of his articles revolved around campaigning for better pay for soldiers and considerable pensions for disabled soldiers. When appeasement was at its height in the 1930s, Blatchford wrote articles railing against Hitler, and arguing the need for military action against him. Blatchford wrote until the end of his life in 1943. The collection includes personal letters, photographs, articles written both about and by him on his beliefs and copies of his books and publications.
3. Not Guilty. A Defence of the Bottom Dog, by Robert Blatchford
4. Newspaper article 'What it's like to be 90 in these times'
5. Letter to daughter Dolly
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