Jarrow March

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Jarrow March: a short, simple summary

What was the Jarrow March?
In October 1936 about 200 men from Jarrow, a town in northeast England, walked to London to protest unemployment and poverty. They carried a petition asking the government to bring back industry to Jarrow after its main shipyard, Palmer’s, closed in 1934. The march was sometimes called the Jarrow Crusade, but many locals simply called it “the March.”

Why did it happen?
Jarrow had grown as a shipbuilding town, but Palmer’s yard shut during the Great Depression. Unemployment jumped, especially in the north, where heavy industry was in decline. People hoped the government would help by creating jobs and reviving industry in Jarrow. Hunger marches and protests had been common since the 1920s, but the Jarrow march was organized locally by town leaders and supporters, with Ellen Wilkinson, a left-leaning Labour MP with strong ties to Jarrow, playing a key role.

How did it unfold?
The march began on October 5, 1936, with about 185–200 marchers walking from Jarrow toward London. They stopped in towns along the way, receiving both support and mixed reactions. Local councils and churches sometimes offered shelter and meals; in other places they faced cooler receptions. The route covered roughly 291 miles, through several towns in Yorkshire, the Midlands, and finally London, where they arrived at Marble Arch on November 31 (the journey spanned most of October).

What happened in London?
In London, the marchers presented a petition to the House of Commons calling for immediate work for Jarrow. The petition drew media attention and public sympathy, but Parliament debated only briefly, and there was no immediate government action to restart major industry in Jarrow. Ellen Wilkinson spoke about the town’s plight, arguing that unemployment and poverty could not be solved by blamed politicians or vague promises. The government and BISF (the steel industry body) offered no quick fix; some proposed schemes were discussed, but none materialized in time to help Jarrow.

What happened after?
Palmer’s shipyard had closed, and the town faced a difficult future. By 1939, a few small industries and a furniture factory provided limited work, but large-scale rebuilding did not come quickly. Over time, the Jarrow March came to symbolize the failures of the era’s economic system, but it also helped shape public awareness and later social reforms. The march left a lasting legacy in Jarrow, including memorials, statues, and continued remembrance of the “Spirit of Jarrow.”

Why is it important?
Historians now see the Jarrow March as a defining event of the 1930s, illustrating how unemployment and poverty affected communities and how people chose to protest. It helped boost public support for social reforms after World War II and is remembered as a powerful example of people coming together across political lines to demand action from the government. The march is often cited in discussions about how communities respond to economic hardship and how protests influence political thinking.