A banner of the Glasgow branch of the Society of Grain Millers, probably made shortly after the union was formed in 1884.
The banner, with an unusual graphic design for the period, depicts a windmill, a water-powered mill and a steam mill, showing milling through the ages to the 1880s. It was made by the London-based banner-maker George Kenning, who opened a Glasgow office in the 1880s.
The Society of Grain Millers became part of the Workers' Union in 1917, which in turn amalgamated with the Transport and General Workers' Union in 1922.
Reference: 44.88.265 / PP.1988.43
Reproduced with the permission of Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Museums
Keywords:
banner-makers, canals, grain mills, horses and carts, mill wheels, millers, milling, railways, Society of Grain Millers, steam mills, thistles, trade unions, Transport and General Workers' Union, union banners, water wheels, water-mills, watermills, windmills, Workers' Union