Bradford Commemorates 1890 Mill Strike with Projection Show

October 29, 2025 Off By

New event honours historic protest at Lister Mill

A projection and sound show titled STRIKE will be held at Bradford’s Lister Mill to mark the 135th anniversary of a significant workers’ strike in the city’s history. The event, organised by Bradford 2025 as part of its UK City of Culture programme, is scheduled to take place every evening from 8pm to 10pm between Friday 3 and Sunday 5 October 2025.

Details of the STRIKE show

The show features a collage of images including slogans, placards, marches, trade unionists, and archive film projected onto the mill’s iconic 249ft chimney. The projections are accompanied by poetry and sound created by Urban Projections and P. A. BITEZ, animating the historic site over three nights.

Historical significance

Lister Mill in Manningham was once the largest silk mill in the world and played a central role in Bradford’s textile industry. In 1890-91, around 5,000 mostly female workers at Lister & Co went on a four-month strike to protest pay cuts. This mass walkout was a pivotal moment that increased unionisation and political activism among workers in the city.

The strike contributed to the formation of the Bradford Labour Union and helped pave the way for the establishment of the Independent Labour Party in Bradford in 1893.

Commemoration of key figures

STRIKE also pays tribute to notable local activists such as Julia Varley, a trade unionist and suffragette, and Margaret McMillan, who campaigned for Free School Meals in Bradford—a policy that became law nationwide in 1906 and remains important in addressing child food poverty.

Community engagement

The project has included an engagement programme involving local artists Mek Summat and poet Nabeela Ahmed. Schools and community groups in the area have participated in workshops on creative writing, printmaking, and banner-making inspired by protest and rights movements.

Additional information

Event: STRIKE projection show
Dates: Friday 3 – Sunday 5 October 2025
Time: 8pm – 10pm each evening
Location: Lister Mill, Bradford, BD9 5BE
Admission: Free
Workshops: Creative banner-making workshops available from 6pm – 10pm during the event dates, drop-in

Lister Mill remains a prominent landmark in Bradford, symbolising the city’s industrial heritage and the social history of its workers.