Local Rebels

Smash the Backlash!

On 2 May 1987 some 3,500 protestors marched from Ducketts Common to nearby Bruce Castle Park to demonstrate against bigotry and racism.

The march was co-organised by the Positive Images Campaign and Haringey Black Action Group in the wake of the proposed Section 28, which would come into law almost exactly a year later and prohibit the so called 'promotion of homosexuality by local authorities'.

Smash The Backlash brought attention to intersections of race and sexuality, highlighting the experiences of black lesbians and gay men and captured in the slogan 'Fight Bigotry! Fight Racism!'.

Further resources

Haringey Vanguard » BME LGBTQ+ History Project

(Poster promoting ’Smash the Backlash’ Demonstration, 1987. From the collections and © Bruce Castle Museum and Archive)

Fanny and Stella

Thomas Ernest Boulton (known as Ernest), was born on Kings Road, Tottenham on 18 December 1847. Boulton grew up to be a famous crossdresser and performer using the name Stella, along with close friend Frederick William Park, who used the name Fanny.

In a show trial of 1871, Fanny and Stella were charged with conspiracy to commit sodomy but were found not guilty. Their not guilty verdict gave pretext to the repressive and infamous ‘Labouchere Amendment’ of 1885, which provided the grounds for both Oscar Wilde’s and Alan Turing’s subsequent convictions for gross indecency.

Fanny and Stella’s story is just one of many that have until recently been silenced, reminding us that LGBTQ+ individuals have always been here, and their stories must be told.

Further resources

Fanny and Stella: Piecing together LGBTQ+ histories and telling the stories - The National Archives blog

Neil Mckenna ‘Fanny & Stella: The Young Men Who Shocked Victorian England’, published 2013.

Joyce, ‘Two Women Walk into a Theatre Bathroom: The Fanny and Stella Trials as Trans Narrative’ (Victorian Review, Vol 44, No 1, Spring 2018)

(Fanny and Stella. Photograph by Frederick Spalding. Restored. Essex Record Office D/F 269/1/3712, Public domain. c. 1869)

Spoiled Census

The census, a data gathering exercise that has historically symbolised the maintenance and enforcement of existing power structures, has often been used as a material site of protest.

The 1911 census is a famous example, as many supporters of the Votes for Women Campaign would spoil their census returns, rendering them unusable as a mark of political resistance.

The Fox family, who lived at 22 Bruce Castle Road, spoiled their census return by smearing ink all over the paper to make it almost illegible. The family were members of the Co-operative Movement and known pacifists, conscientious objectors and supporters of women’s enfranchisement. This census return was discovered by the Haringey First World War Peace Forum.

Further resources

Tottenham Women's History maps

Demonstrating against the National Front in Tottenham

In January 1979, at Tottenham Magistrates’ Court, charges were brought by the police against five members of the Tottenham Labour Party. In July 1978 the five had been part of a demonstration against the National Front in Bruce Grove. One member – Sheila Peacock – had been accused of using insulting words and behaviour. Sheila also said she was hurt in the struggle as she was dragged away by the police. After the three-day trial, all five were cleared of the charges against them.

As the Tottenham & Edmonton Weekly Herald newspaper reported:

‘The case had “put at risk the constitutional and democratic right of a party to campaign on issues which affect us locally.” It claimed the right to oppose organisations which ‘promote an atmosphere of hate’ (clearly referring to the National Front).

Acquitted with Sheila Peacock (the secretary of the Tottenham Labour Party and, in 1979, President of the National Union of Teachers) was her husband Norman Peacock, Cherry McAskill, Vincent Gillespie and Keith Dobie.

Tottenham Magistrates Court (Grade II listed) is no longer a courthouse, having closed in 2016.