Plaque for the Battle of Lewes Road, Brighton 1926

Aim: Campaign supported by Brighton and Hove Trades Council to raise £1500 for a blue plaque to commemorate the Battle of Lewes Road in May 1926

Remembering the Battle of Lewes Road 1926

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, pictured above). 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 with a blue plaque.

In a campaign supported by Brighton and Hove District Trades Union Council, we plan to 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.   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 and all details about this event will be published on this project page in due course and we would hope all donors and supporters who are able would be able to join us then.

For more information, or for trade union branches and others wishing to donate to this project but unable for whatever reason to use this crowdfunder, please contact Brighton and Hove Trades Union Council.  

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 28th August 2025 at 10:03pm