Thursday 22 November 2012

22nd November 1812: Luddism returns to Nottingham

After a hiatus of 8 months, frame-breaking Luddites returned to Nottingham on the evening of Sunday 22nd November 1812.

At 7.00 p.m., a Mr Glue and two of his friends were smoking pipes by the fire at Glue's house in Earl Street when six armed and disguised men burst in. Some of them had drawn swords and lunged at a candle that stood on a table, slicing a portion off and extinguishing the flame. The Luddites insisted one of the men show them where a lace frame was kept, whilst a guard was kept on the other two men. The frame was destroyed and the men left carrying away the remains.

The Luddites alleged that the frame was working for 'half-goods and half-money' which meant it had to be destroyed.

This is taken from accounts in the Derby Mercury of 3rd December 1812 & the Leeds Mercury of 28th November 1812. Accounts also appear in other newspapers like the Leicester Journal & the Lancaster Gazette, which agree with the Leeds Mercury. The Derby Mercury account has the street as 'East Street' and the Master-framework-knitter being called 'Glew'. I have kept to the names used in the majority of the accounts.

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