History
It was established by reformer Robert Owen by a public meeting at the Royal London Bazaar on 12 December 1831 under the name Association of the Intelligent and Well Disposed of the Working Classes to Remove the Causes of Poverty and Ignorance, shortly afterwards changed to the Society to Remove the Causes of Poverty and Ignorance (David Hayes, ‘ “Without Parallel in the Known World”: The Chequered Past of 277 Gray’s Inn Road’, Camden History Review, vol. 25, 2001)
The Times reported on this meeting of his “Association for Removing the Causes of Ignorance and Poverty by Education and Employment” in depth, publishing verbatim the 19 resolutions passed at the meeting (The Times, 20 December 1831)
It was initially supported by the building’s proprietor, William Bromley (David Hayes, ‘ “Without Parallel in the Known World”: The Chequered Past of 277 Gray’s Inn Road’, Camden History Review, vol. 25, 2001), but it may not have survived for long after Bromley evicted Owen from the building at the end of 1832
It no longer exists
|
What was reforming about it?
It was aimed at improving the education, health, and welfare of the local working classes, including men and women, through lectures, a library, schools, co-operative food preparation, vegetable growing, and the establishment of an equitable labour exchange and bank (David Hayes, ‘ “Without Parallel in the Known World”: The Chequered Past of 277 Gray’s Inn Road’, Camden History Review, vol. 25, 2001)
Where in Bloomsbury
At the end of 1832, Owen was evicted as tenant, being unable to afford Bromley’s new demands for higher rent or outright purchase (David Hayes, ‘ “Without Parallel in the Known World”: The Chequered Past of 277 Gray’s Inn Road’, Camden History Review, vol. 25, 2001); it is not clear where or even if the Society continued to meet elsewhere
Website of current institution
It no longer exists
|
>
Books about it
None found
Archives
None found
|
+44 (0)20 7679 3134 - Copyright © 1999-2005 UCL
