banner

Double side trade union banner for the Gasworks and General Labourers, Bristol Branch.
The banner is apparently made from two seperate banners sewn together. Both sides have oil-paint decoration on a silk background. The edging is of red, white and blue cord, with a bottom fringe of blue and red and a looping cord in yellow.
The face side has a large central panel of a working scene inside a gas works. In the four corners are smaller scenes depicting, at the top right, a street with workmen laying pipes; at bottom right, the interior of a gas works; at top left, a Bristol street with a large gasometer dominating the background; and a man loading a furnace with coal at bottom left. Above the central panel is a painted traditional symbol, the clasped hands of friendship and unity. Surrounding the central panel is the inscription, 'UNION/ OF GASWORKERS AND GENERAL/ LABOURERS/ BRISTOL DISRICT NO. 1 BRANCH'. The background is of red silk decorated with painted late- Victorian foliage and scrollwork.
The back has a blue silk background with central painted panel showing two men carrying tools and shaking hands. 'Workers Unite' is in the centre of the panel, and a painted ribbon above reads 'The cause of Labour is the hope of the world'. The latter half of the motto is placed over a globe.