Wakefield Museums and Castles

This amber glass whisky bottle was the last bottle made at Castleford's Breffit and Co. It closed in 1926 due to the General Strike.

In May 1926 miners went on strike. They were protesting against working more hours for lower pay.

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) declared their support for the miners. This meant workers from many other industries also went on strike in solidarity.

There had been a strong union for glassworkers in Castleford since the 1850s. Glassmakers earned more than other trades but their working conditions were hard. They worked in extreme heat, breathing unhealthy fumes.

Factory owners often tried to reduce costs by replacing skilled workers with new machinery. This led to increased unemployment.