The Royal Dockyard Worker in Edwardian England: Culture, Leisure and Empire Melanie Marie Bassett 108964 The thesis is submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy of the University of Portsmouth. March 2014 1 Abstract This thesis is a detailed study of the influence of imperialism on the English working-class male during the period of ‘high imperialism’. Recent debate on the impact of imperialism on the British working class has split academics between those who argue in favour of an imperial dominant ideology and those who question its impact. The thesis will address this disparity and make an original contribution to the historiography of British imperialism by examining discourses of ‘top down’ imperialism alongside working-class responses to evaluate their impact and highlight examples of cultural agency. By using a detailed study of the Portsmouth Royal Dockyard worker the thesis highlights the importance of local experiences in mediating the imperial narrative. The impact of workplace relations in the community, the civic elites, the provincial press and commercial leisure are explored to provide a nuanced understanding of how these processes worked in practice. Portsmouth’s Royal Dockyard worker provides an interesting case study as the town’s economic prosperity rested with the presence of the Admiralty in the town. The Royal Dockyard workers were the largest industrial group in the town and possessed a unique perspective as employees of the state. They were instrumental in the building and maintenance of the British Fleet, which continued to gain increasing interest during the Edwardian period due to the escalation of the Naval Arms Race with Germany and the other world powers. Their lack of trade union activity in comparison to northern and midland industrialised towns and the reliance on the strength of the Royal Navy to provide them with employment has led to assumptions that Royal Dockyard workers were deferential and subservient to the Admiralty and economically pre-disposed to “naval imperialism.” This study will offer a unique perspective on the study of imperialism by illustrating, not just how the working classes were subjected to imperialism from ‘above’, but how they were able to use concepts of empire to their own advantage. Rather than being subservient, deferential and economically predisposed to being ‘imperialists’ the thesis will argue that the workforce of the Royal Dockyard were active in their approaches to British imperial thought. 2 Acknowledgements The last couple of years have been particularly difficult due to a road traffic accident, the recovery from which severely disrupted my studies and challenged me personally. These acknowledgements are particularly heartfelt for the love, patience and support shown by my family, friends and supervisory team. I would like to thank the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and the Portsmouth Royal Dockyard Historical Trust (PRDHT) who have funded my research as part of an AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Award. Special mentions must go to my supervisors Brad Beaven, Karl Bell and Rob James and the members of the University of Portsmouth History Department. Also, to John Crump, Nick Hewitt, Bob Russell, Mike Roberts and John Regnard of the PRDHT and its Support Group. I also wish to thank and remember Brian Patterson, who sadly passed away during the research into this PhD; his help and invaluable contribution to the preservation of the history of the Portsmouth Royal Dockyard and its workers has made this study and others like it possible. Thank you also to my examiners Jodi Burkett and Matt Taylor for their time and advice. Many thanks also to the staff at the Portsmouth History Centre, especially to John Stedman for his in- depth knowledge of the collections of Portsmouth City Museum and Record Service. Others that have helped me professionally, including Peter Galliver, David Sherren from the University of Portsmouth Map Library and Deborah Hodson and Vicky Ingles of the Royal Naval Museum. A massive thank you must also be said to my PhD friends, who whom I have shared great camaraderie with throughout the process. To my family – I am especially grateful to my parents, Alan and Marie Tulip, who have always encouraged and supported me and scrimped and sacrificed to give my brother and I every opportunity in life. Thanks also to my brother Gareth who has kept me smiling; my grandparents Marie and Terry Bowers, and my mother-in-law Jackie Osborne; you have all kept me going in the most invaluable of ways. The biggest thank you must go to my husband, Paul, who is my rock and my soul mate and without whose love and support I would not have been able to achieve all I have so far. 3 Contents Page Abstract 2 Acknowledgments 3 Declaration 5 List of Figures 6 List of Maps 6 List of Pictures 7 List of Tables 8 Chapter 1 Introduction 9 Chapter 2 Portsmouth, the Civic Elite and the Dockyard Worker 26 Chapter 3 Social Structures and Residential Patterns 66 Chapter 4 The Local Press 97 Chapter 5 Mass Leisure and Entertainment 125 Chapter 6 Dockyard Outings and Excursions 158 Chapter 7 Clubs and Societies of the Royal Dockyard Worker 192 Conclusion 235 Appendix 239 Bibliography 257 4 Declaration Whilst registered as a candidate for the above degree, I have not been registered for any other research award. The results and conclusions embodied in this thesis are the work of the named candidate and have not been submitted for any other academic award. Word Count: 67,074 words (excluding ancillary material) 5 List of Figures Figure 1. Portsmouth Dockyard Workers’ Places of Birth, 1911, Portsea 246 Figure 2. Portsmouth Dockyard Workers’ Places of Birth, 1911, 247 North End Figure 3. Portsmouth Dockyard Workers’ Places of Birth, 1911, 248 East Southsea List of Maps Map 1. Map of Portsea Island showing the sample areas of Portsea, 82 East Southsea and North End, c.1910 Map 2. Portsea with sample area circled c.1909 239 Map 3.Sample roads highlighted, Portsea c.1909 239 Map 4. Detail of slum area, Portsea, c.1909 240 Map 5. North End, c.1898 241 Map 6. North End, c.1911 241 Map 7. North End sample area c.1898 242 Map 8. North End with sample roads highlighted on 1909 map 242 Map9. North End sample area highlighted on 1930s urban formation 243 Map 10. East Southsea with sample area highlighted, c.1909 244 Map 11. East Southsea, c.1898 244 Map 12. East Southsea, c.1909 244 6 List of Pictures Picture 1. Portsmouth's Welcome to the French Fleet Sports Day, 49 August 10th 1905 Picture 2. Japanese Visit. Decorated Car Passing Through Fratton Road, 49 July 1907 Picture 3. Postcard, 1908. Laburnum Road, North End 87 Picture 4. New Theatre Royal Programme, 1889 137 Picture 5. New Theatre Royal Programme, 1894 137 Picture 6. New Theatre Royal Programme, 1907 137 Picture 7. ‘Torpedoed’, Screen Shot from Alfred West’s Film Catalogue 142 Picture 8. ‘Loading Bananas for England, Jamaica’, Screen Shot from 143 Alfred West’s Film Catalogue Picture 9. ‘Plait the Maypole’, Screen Shot from Alfred West’s Film 143 Catalogue Picture 10. ‘A Record Gate’, Fratton Park 1st September 1906. Stephen 153 Cribb Picture 11. At Rookesbury Park. MED Drawing Office album, c.1905 162 Picture 12. Electrical Engineers Outing, 1913 163 Picture 13. Members of the MED Department at Jesmond Dene, 1903 168 Picture 14. Excursion Bill Advertising a Trip to Portsmouth v. Grimsby, 177 January 1902 Picture 15. Dockyard Excursion Committee Bill Offering Trips to 177 London, the Stanley Cycle Show, the National Show and Horsham, November 1902 Picture 16. Dockyard Excursion Committee Bill Offering Cheap Admission 177 to the Anglo-American Exhibition, August 1914 Picture 17. Guide to the Empire India Exhibition, 1895 180 Picture 18. Guide to the Military Exhibition, 1901 180 7 Picture 19. The Dockyard Excursion Committee, c.1900 184 Picture 20. Portsmouth Trades and Labour Council with Labour Town 198 Councillors Picture 21. A. G. Gourd, GLU. “‘Gourdie’ likes a ‘grievance.’ If he hasn’t 203 something to worry about, he isn’t happy.” Picture 22. Jack Williams, Secretary of A Branch, Portsmouth ASS, a 203 “... dour, imperturbable son of Cambria ... A man who seldom speaks, and only when necessary.” Picture 23. EEM Apprentices Annual Outing, c.1913 212 Picture 24. EEM EFAA, 1907-1908 213 Picture 25. A Dockyard Volunteer, c.1850 229 List of Tables Table 1. Typical Working Class Houses in Portsmouth 76 Table 2. The Edwardian Provincial Press in Portsmouth 102 Table 3. Dockyard Workers Living in Portsea Slum Area 245 Table 4. Theatres and Music Halls in Portsmouth 252 Table 5. Dockyard Trades’ Weekly Rates of Pay, 1905 253 Table 6. Sample of Long-Distance Excursions and Prices 253 Table 7. Passengers Carried and Cash Paid, 1912. London, Brighton 254 and South Coast Rail Table 8. Passengers Carried and Cash Paid, 1912. London and 255 South West Rail 8 Chapter 1. Introduction This thesis will explore the impact of imperialism on the leisure time of the Royal Dockyard worker in Edwardian England. Portsmouth’s Royal Dockyard worker provides an interesting case study as the town’s economic prosperity rested with the presence of the Admiralty in the town. The Royal Dockyard workers were the largest industrial group in the town and possessed a unique perspective as employees of the state. They were instrumental in the building and maintenance of the Royal Navy’s fleet, which gained increasing interest during the Edwardian period due to the escalation of the Naval Arms Race with Germany and other world powers. Moreover, their lack of trade union activity in comparison to northern and midland industrialised towns and the reliance on the strength of the Royal Navy to provide them with employment have led to assumptions that Royal Dockyard workers were deferential and subservient to the Admiralty and economically pre-disposed to “naval imperialism.”1 The thesis seeks to look beyond the realm of work to investigate how concepts of the Royal Dockyard workers’ place in the British Empire pervaded their everyday lives.