Bella was married to boxer (and bank robber, see ) Dick Burge.  They took on the lease of the Surrey Chapel, an ex-chapel which had become a boxing ring in 1910.  Renamed "The Ring" it became one of the first indoor venues for working class boxing.  Bella and her female friends attended the boxing bouts, which was very unusual at that date. Dick died in 1919 and Bella carried on the Ring, expanding into all-in wrestling in 1932.  Bombs in 1940 and 1941 destroyed the building and the site was redeveloped, most recently into the Palastra Building.  This information all comes from the wonderful , where you will find some fascinating pictures.
This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Bella Burge
Commemorated ati
Other Subjects
Anthony Standerwick Heal
Son of Sir Ambrose Heal of the Heals furniture shop which was established in 1810.  It moved from Rathbone Place to Tottenham Court Road in 1818.  Anthony became a director in 1936 and the Chairman...
Admiral Duncan pub bombing
Well known as a gay pub, the Admiral Duncan was the site chosen by Neo-Nazi David Copeland to detonate a nail bomb which killed three people and wounded 70. Copeland, who was also responsible for ...
Event, Commerce, Community / Clubs, Food & Drink, Gender Issues, Terrorism, Tragedy
Royal Victoria Dock
The Royal Victoria Dock was opened in 1855 and is the first and largest of the three Royal Docks, the other two being Royal Albert Dock (opened 1880) and King George V Dock (1921). The whole area i...
Fountains Abbey pub
Sir Alexander Fleming was a loyal regular. Legend says that it was mould spores from this ale house which blew through Fleming’s window, leading him to the discovery of Penicillin in 1928.   The Fo...

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