The Journey
The Jarrow March/Crusade
Jarrow To Ferryhill
As mentioned earlier the day was October 5th 1936, leaving their local Town Hall the marchers made their way to Christ Church for the service before embarking on what was destined to become a unique moment in history.
After the service the men came out to even greater crowds. With the local brass band at their head, the Mayor, the Town Clerk close behind, and behind them two men carrying an oak box containing the petition sign by 11,000 residents of Jarrow. The two men were then followed by Miss Ellen Wilkinson, Councillor Joe Hanlon, Councillor David Riley and Alderman Joe Symonds followed up by the 200 hundred men themselves.
Their first stop would see them at Springwell (Gateshead) for something to eat.
Arriving at their first overnight stopping Place Chester-le-street, some 12 miles further on from their start piont, here the men took tea, and later after a meeting in the market square they retired to the Church Institute. The floor of the institute was rather dusty, and hard this did not deter the men from sleeping. Image hosted webshots
Next Morning 7th October, found them in good spirits, and ready to hit the road their destination this time was ferryhill located 7/8 miles south of Durham City. This time the journey was a little more hardy with the bus that carried their equipment having great difficulty surmounting the hills. The marchers on the other-hand continued at a steady paste, and had no such difficulties. Part of the way they added to their ranks one stray black labrador dog who they adopted as their mascot and rightly named “Jarrow”.
Arriving at Ferryhill a town that relied heavily on the coal industry, going through serious economic suffering of its own, the men recieved a warm welcome, and some much needed food. Next morning seen them tucking into a hearty breakfast of bacon and eggs. The doctors by now had their fare share of foot blisters to treat and two health problems of a more serious nature. A young boy had a seizure and a elderly man developed a septic heel. Doctors agreeded that the men should return home. Image hosted webshots