A historical event that saw fascists chased out of a North East town will be commemorated and celebrated this weekend with a string of events - here's everything you need to know.
The Battle of Stockton will be commemorated and celebrated tomorrow (September 9), in The Georgian Theatre and across Stockton-on-Tees.
The battle took place on September 10 1933 and was a clash between Oswald Mosley's British Union of Fascists, known as the "Blackshirts," and anti-fascist protesters.
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The whole town has been invited to the free celebrations that include entertainment, live music and “immersive” living history as the battle is brought back to life.
Proceedings will officially kick off at 3:30pm with a performance from The Cockerton Brass Band by the fountains at The Town Hall.
Then, attendees can enjoy more performances and be “transported back in time” by North East musicians including Frazer Lambert, Lily Brooke, Ella-Joy-Hunton and Andy Jones.
This is the 6th year that The Battle of Stockton campaign has taken place to raise awareness of the event and educate locals on far-right extremism.
A detailed retelling of the battle explains how 2,000 Teessiders chased the fascists out of town after they were warned of their imminent arrival.
To the backdrop of mass unemployment and poverty, a legacy from The Great Depression, Sir Oswald Moseley’s British Union of Fascists looked to recruit the disenfranchised to build up his army of Blackshirts, Stockton-on-Tees was no exception.
On that second Sunday of September 1933, the blackshirts arrived at Thornaby Town Hall and marched in formation over Victoria Bridge and into Stockton town centre.
They were heading for the market cross in Stockton High Street, with the view of galvanising support and encouraging locals to join their ranks.
The people of Stockton received a warning of the fascist’s descent on the town. Over two thousand people from Teesside were waiting to push back Mosley’s men.
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Amongst the ranks of the resistance were communists, socialists, trade unionists, members of the Independent Labour Party and members of the National Unemployed Workers movement.
The fascists were chased down Silver Street to the river and fled back to their coaches and out of town.
To find out more about the battle and the celebrations, click here.
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