When the L.B.S.C.R. moved their Carriage Workshops from Brighton to Lancing in 1912, the move was resented by the vast majority of the word force who continued to live within the Brighton area, and now had an additional railway journey from Brighton to Lancing which added to their working hours.

On Monday 30th December 1918, saw the national hours’ week come into force under the 
railway agreement, work began at Lancing at 6 a.m. and the men had to catch a train leaving 
at 5.30. The day’s work finished at Lancing at 5.30 p.m. and they then had to make the return journey, Brighton being reached at 6.15. No pay was received for travelling time. A few months previous the men relinquished twenty minutes of their meal break time to enable them to reach home earlier, but continual agitation failed to achieve the request for the inclusion of the time spent in travelling into the number of hours for which payment was made.

With the introduction of the 47 hours’ week it was decided to make a determined effort to 
secure these concessions. A notice setting forth their demand was posted on Monday and 
during the morning the Superintendent of the Carriage Department, Mr. Panter was informed of their resolution. The Consequence of these alternations of hours was that the Railway Company has provided a train at 7.30, instead of 5.30 as formerly to take men to Lancing. On Tuesday 31st December 1918, the men decided that they would not travel by this train in future, and they resolved to present themselves at Brighton Station on Wednesday morning at eight o’clock. This decision – of which Mr. Panter had been informed – was carried into effect that morning, and on arrival at the station it was found that no train was awaiting them. Consequently none of the men were at work during the day. In the course of the morning a Deputation waited on Mr. Panter at Lancing with a view to arranging a join conference of the Carriage and Locomotive Departments, but no settlement of the dispute was arrived at.

At night a crowded meeting of the Lancing employees, including women and boys, was held 
at Brighton, and the position was discussed at considerable length. It was agreed to adhere to 
the decision already arrived at, and as necessary consequence, to present themselves at 
Brighton Station at eight o’clock next morning. It was asserted that if no train was there 
would be a strike on a large scale, affecting the Carriage and Locomotive Departments, and 
the running sheds at Brighton.

At eight ‘clock no train was waiting, and accordingly at 8.30 the great majority of the 

workers at Brighton joined the strikers

On Thursday morning, 2nd January, a masked development of the Brighton Railway strike, as the men in the locomotive works came out in sympathy with carriage department. They 
started work as usual this morning, but about half past eight the great majority of the 
workmen put down their tools and joined the strikers, with nearly 2,000 men out on strike. A 
small section, in number from about seventy to a hundred, remained at work until ten o’clock, and then they also struck, but stated that they were under protest, as they did not consider they should be involved in the dispute.

The total number of men out at mid-day was 3,280. The drivers and firemen and the station 
staff are not affected, and the traffic so far proceeded as usual.

It was announced in the afternoon that the Joint Management of the Railway Shops had 
refused up to that time to meet the representatives of the men to discuss the questions which 
had caused the stoppage of work. Some misapprehension appears to have been caused by 
statement in a London newspaper on Thursday 2nd, January, to the effect that the strikers 
demands includes payment for travelling during the outward journey from Brighton to 
Lancing only, but the fact is - and is not disputed by the men themselves - that they are 
demanding that the whole of the time spent travelling shall be included in the 47 hours’ week. 

This is the primary cause of the trouble, but the men contend that they have other grievances, among which are included the question of the wages of those engaged on piece-work, some of them complaining that they will be expected to turn out in 47 hours’ week as much as in the previous 54 if their earning are to be unaffected.

Against that it may be pointed out that when the claim for 47 hours’ week was conceded gave a guaranteed that out put should be in no way diminished, and in face of this it is a little difficult to reconcile that guaranteed with the attitude for the men.

On Friday morning, the men held another mass meeting on the Level in Brighton, and 
afterwards their Disputes Committee met, and drew up the following statement of their case:-

“As considerable misunderstanding exists in the public mind, in connection with the present 

dispute affection some 3,000 railway employees on the L.B. & S.C. Railway system, mainly 

employed at Brighton and Lancing and likely to spread to the whole system.”

The following is an authoritative statement issued by the Dispute Committee:-

The question at issue centres mainly around two points, which have arisen by the substitution of a 47 for a 54 hour week.

The first point of local importance is the claim of the men working at Lancing. They are asked to leave Brighton at 7.30 each morning and get back to Brighton at 6.15 in the evening. The additional of an hour and a quarter to their daily task violates both the letter and spirit of the 47 hour agreement.

The second point is of even greater moment, is a much as it touches a much larger section of 

the employees throughout the system. Eighty per cent, of the shop-men are piece-workers and in the notice issued on Monday afternoon they are peremptorily told that piece price will remain unaltered. Common-sense dictates that the logical outcome of this and its effect on piece-workers will be reduction in wages of anything between 10s and 15s per week. Again a violation of the letter, and spirit of the agreement, which is based on the principle, that the reductions in hours shall mean no diminution in wages. In other words, as the men cannot produce as much in 47 as in 54 hours, an adjustment of prices is not only necessary but imperative.”

At meetings other than those convened by the Dispute Committee have been addressed by 
irresponsibly persons, totally unconnected with the Railway service, the Dispute Committee 
desire to take the opportunity of disclaiming any responsibility for statements by them.

On the afternoon of Friday 3^rd January, nine representatives of the men journeyed to London 
Bridge and had an interview with the General Manner and other representatives of the 
company. The men were courteously received and the points in the dispute were gone into 
seriatim in the course of a long discussion. No settlement was arrived at, but certain terms 
were offered, and these were submitted to a mass meeting of the men Saturday morning, at the Duke of York’s Theatre, Preston Circus.

Another grievance of the men is that they must turn out in the 47 hours’ week as much as in 
the 54 hours if their earning are to remain unaffected.

At a mass meeting of the men on Saturday morning, 4^th January, the representatives gave an 
account of the proceedings at their interview with the General Manager on the previous 
afternoon and considerable discussion ensued on the terms of settlement offered, but they 
were not regarded as satisfactory, and the meeting broke up without any definite decision 
being arrived at. The prospect of an early settlement was not regarded as at all probable, and 
picket notices were posted at the Labour Institute in Queen’s place.

There was a serious development on Sunday morning, 5^th January, when the Brighton 
Drivers, Firemen and guards held a mass meeting at the Duke of York’s Theatre, in Brighton, and it was decided to cease work at midnight on Monday in support of the carriage department workers at Lancing. It was uncertain on Sunday as to the number of men affected, but it was thought in labour circles that something favourable might be arrived to by Monday morning. Another meeting of railway-men was held in the evening, in Croydon, whereby it was decided to strike next Friday, 10th January, if the Lancing dispute had not been settled mean time.

On Monday morning 6th, however, there had been no stoppage of the traffic. How long this 
state of things will continue remains to be seen. Careful inquiries go to show that the plane of the organisers of the strike have not works as was expected, some men being told not to go to work and others receiving no message at all, with the result that traffic went on as usual.

It is understood that the good departments employees have decided to “come out” tomorrow, 
if the dispute is not ended.

At five o’clock the Conference between the Management and the Men was still in progress at London Bridge.

The situation in connection with the different Trade Unions was far from clear, while some 
branches had called upon their members to leave their work for a sympathy strike, other have given explicit directions that their members are not to so, and they are therefore continuing to work as normal. A call for general railway strike was ordered, with the railway workers at Locomotive & Carriages Workshops at Crewe (L.N.W.R.) and Swindon (G.W.R.) to strike in support of their fellow railway workers at Lancing.

During Monday afternoon there was a further conference are London Bridge between the 
representatives of the strikers at Brighton and the management of the railway, but when the 
sitting terminated at 5.30. It was announced that there was nothing to communicate for 
publication. Press representatives who saw Sir William Forbes who had gathered, at London 
Bridge Station, however, that there was little or no prospect of the company undertaking to 
pay for the travelling time to and from Lancing works. The hours at work have been reduced 
to 47 a week and the men have free railway conveyance to and from their work. Thousands of men in other employments in London have to pay for long journeys from the suburbs out of their own pockets, and have to be at their work at appointed working hours. “If you take the men’s argument,” Sir William Forbes is reported to have, said, 

“The further a man lives from his work the happier he will be, and any man who lives a distance from his work in London will be entitled to claim to book on from the time he joins his train, tram, or bus. It will be seen that the Company cannot possibly make a concession.”

It is understood that questions regarding piece work applicable not merely to the Brighton 
Railway but to all parts of the country coming under the 47 hours regulation, and other 
points are to be the subject at a general discussion between the Companies and the Railway-
men’s organisations.

On Tuesday morning 7th, the position in connection with the Lancing Railway dispute was 
much about the same as yesterday. 

The rumour that the engine drivers and firemen would come out had not materialised: on the 
contrary it is understood that a telegram was sent from London yesterday evening instructing them not to strike. Before that message was received about 50 of the drivers and firemen had come out. This morning a large number of the men out on strike gathered at the Central Station Square at Brighton and stood about chatting in groups for a long time.
Some of the guards, porters and ticket collectors, had joined the striker, but the station staff 
were to “carry on” working as normal. With a section of the goods employers leaving their 
work “out of sympathy” with the workshop men, the goods traffic had been interrupted, but, 
with a section of the men on duty, it had not been entirely stopped. Shunting and shifting of 
goods was being continuing, and delivery also where tradesmen were able to arrange to fetch their consignments, but as the van men were “out” the Company were not in a position to deliver off their own premises. The stable staff were at working attending to the horses, so 
there has been no difficulty in that respect.

The situation in connection with the different Trade Unions is far from clear as while some 
branches have called upon their members to leave their work for sympathy strikes, others 
have given directions that their members are not to do so, and they are therefore continuing to work as usual.

The Executive committee did not support the actions of the Brighton Branch.

REPLY TO SIR WILLIAM FORBES

The Dispute Committee at Brighton this morning formulated the following in reply to 
statements distributed in the press to the General Manager.

The assertion of the Manager that the granting of the 47 hour week to the Lancing men was 
in the nature of a privilege outside the National Agreement is incorrect.

In the agreements between the Railway Executive and the Railway Representatives of the 
National Unions concerned, the 47 hour week is granted without a conference to all 
shopmen, with a meeting , if necessary, to arrange details.

This is a sufficient reply to the second compliant that the cessation of work took the Company by surprise.
The 47 hour week was to come into operation on 1^st January, 1919. The official notice 
intimating this to the men, were posted just one and a half days earlier.

The Manager seems to forget that three weeks previously he had received a letter from the 
men asking for the meeting which the agreement states may be necessary to arrange details.
The Committee asset that the Manager’s account of the removal of the Works to Lancing, true as far as it goes is not the whole truth. The removal of the men’s work eight miles from their homes was an act in which they were not consulted, and for which they bear no responsibility, and the Manager is sufficiently well acquainted with the details to be aware that between Brighton and Lancing, or at Lancing itself, no effort has hitherto been made to supply the necessary housing.

It may seem a joke to the Manager that for six years the men have had to rise at 4.30 a.m. in 
order to be at work at 6, but they can assure him that they have never found any happiness in it.

The proposal of leaving by train at 7.30 a.m. still involves rising at 6.30, with wives who have to prepare the meal getting up an hour earlier, and, much as the Manager makes of the 
absurdity of the men’s claim, it may surprise him to know that, in all its essentials, it is one 
that is at present practiced through the National Telephone system.

The Manager assures the men and the public that such a strike cannot be tolerated by the 
Government. The difficulty the men are in is that experienced by “Poo-Bah” in the 
“Mikado.” It is hard to tell when the railway company is the Government or the Government is the Railway Company. Until Nationalisation of railways occurs (if ever), the railwaymen concerned are bound to regards the L.B. & S.C. Railway as their employers and to deal with them accordingly.

On Wednesday, the situation at Brighton in connection with the Lancing Railway dispute had undergone little or no change this morning. Some of the Signalmen have come out in 
sympathy with the strikers, but not in any considerable numbers, and the passenger traffic is 
being carried on much as usual, One train to London and another to Portsmouth were 
cancelled this morning, but travellers had no difficulty in getting to their destination by 
earlier or later trains. As the strike had not been authorised by Union headquarters and the 
men came out on their own responsibility, they are not in receipt of strike pay. A large number assembled in the square at the Brighton Central Station, but there was no demonstration. During the morning there was widespread are not in receipt of strike pay. A large number assembled in the square at the Brighton Central Station, but there was no demonstration. During the morning there was a widespread rumour among the men that the Company were coping with the situation by drafting workshop employees from other districts on the system into Brighton, but as a result of telegraph enquiries, the Dispute Committee gave an assurance that there was no foundation for this.

The strike over the Lancing Carriage Works affair continues at Brighton. The Company have so far declined to entertain the application of the men to be paid while travelling to their work from Brighton to Lancing and back. On their side the men are also standing firm in the position they have taken up and so far there is a deadlock. The piecework rates, overtime and all minor points stand, in accordance with the agreement between the men and their employers referred to a conference in London of the Union headquarters representatives and these of the Joint Railway Management Committee. So far nothing has been ensured as to the progress of this conference, and on enquiring this morning a representative of the Argus was informed that the Depot Committee are still without any news of what had transpired there. The men have no local representative attending it, but their interests are, of course being watched by the National Representative. Locally, the position shows very little change from yesterday. Passenger traffic is still being carried on; the only train cancelled being the 6.55 to Portsmouth this morning.

MR. J.H. THOMAS EMPHATIC WARNING MEN AT WORK

NOT TO FOLLOW STRIKERS

Mr. J.H. Thomas, M.P., General Secretary, National Union of Railwaymen to a statement to 
the Press Association this morning said his attention had been called to the circular issued on his behalf of the Brighton Strike Committee calling upon on railwaymen and others to strike in support of the men now out.

Mr Thomas said he wished to give the most emphatic warning to the members against 
following say such advice.

The Executive Committee had discussed the matter with the Board of Trade and Sir William 
Forbes, and suggestions were made which in the opinion of the Committee ought to result in 
the men’s immediately resuming work.

"Mr. Thomas“I must, urge the men to recognise that the present state of the country it is 

imperative that stoppages shall be avoided. Everything is being done by the Executive 

Committee to speed up the matter, but there must be a real desire to make tings run smoothly."

The men held a extraordinary meeting this morning at the Dukes of York’s Theatre, Preston 
Circus, and the Dispute Committee afterwards deliberated at the Labour Institute in Queen’s 
Place. There were not so many strikers congregated in the Central Square, at Brighton 
Station, as in previous days this week, but men were to be seen walking about in considerable numbers in all the chief thoroughfares in the centre of town, or standing about in little groups at street corners earnestly discussing the pros and cons of the situation.

The Works train between Brighton and Lancing continued to run after the strike gaining the 
nickname “The Lancing Belle” by the workforce after the other famous train out of Brighton 
“The Southern Belle”.

The train would stop at principle stations between Brighton and Lancing in the morning, but 
on it on the return journey in the evening the train would only slowly down enough to let the 
workmen jump off.

The train remained one of the last steam workings out of Brighton loco shed right up until the end of steam on the Central Division, June 1964. On Monday, 15th June, 1964, the Brighton - Lancing Works workmen’s train "The Lancing Belle" became diesel hauled by a Type 3 locomotive (class 33). The diesel haulage was to be brief, with the last working into the Works running on Friday 3rd July,1964. 

The service was replaced on the Monday 6th July by a straight forward set of electric 
stock working between Brighton & Lancing station.The works continued to operate after 
the nationalisation of British Railways (BR) in 1948 and gained a reputation for its efficiency and industrial harmony. 

THE BRIGHTON HERALD 

6th October 1962

Railway trade unions demonstrating in Brighton against 

the proposed closure of the Lancing Carriage Works

By the 1960s over 1,500 employees worked at Lancing. In 1962 efforts to rationalise BR's manufacturing capacity resulted in the decision to close Lancing in favour of Eastleigh Railway Works. Many of those concerned felt the decision to close Lancing rather than Eastleigh was for political rather than economic reasons, due to Eastleigh being a marginal Parliamentary constituency in the 'sixties that the Government of Harold Macmillan was fearful of losing, whilst Lancing fell within a 'safe' Conservative Parliamentary seat. The run down of the carriage works took place over the next three years, with final closure coming on Friday 25 June 1965, with the loss of over 1,500 jobs. Some the workforce were relocated to Eastleigh Works.