14th November 1817: Lancelot Rolleston sends the indemnifying confessions of Nottinghamshire Luddites to the Home Office

My Lord

I have the honour of enclosing your Lordship four acknowledgements taken by me in comformity to the proclamation issued last summer; I have reason to believe many others would have come forward had they not been dissuaded by old Badder who went round for that purpose. Since I had the honour of seeing your Lordship, I have had frequent opportunities of ascertaining the effect produced by the proceedings of the last year, which I am fully convinced have not only destroyed the spirit of Luddism, but impressed the minds of that class of the [community] with a respect for the Justice, as well as a proper sense of the power of the [laws].

I know your Lordship to be well acquainted with the specious and designing characters of Ward, Henson &c &c but it is not to these men I allude, but their misguided instruments, who profess a just feeling of indignation against their seducers, & will not again I think be easily led to a recommission of similar crimes. My last plan for the apprehension of Christr. Blackburn is laid, but I have very faint hopes of success, but should I succeed, your Lordship shall immediately be informed.

I have [etc]
Lanct. Rolleston

Watnall
Nov. 14th. 1817

[Confessions follow]

County of Nottingham

I Jonathan Austin of Basford in the County of Nottingham do hereby acknowledge myself to have been a party at the breaking of the frames at Bramcote last summer

Jonathan
my X mark―
Austin

Acknowledged
Before me July 22nd 1817

Lanct. Rolleston one of his Majesty’s justices of the peace for the said County


County of Nottingham

I Joseph Mellors of Basford in the County of Nottingham do hereby acknowledge myself to have been actively concerned in the framebreaking at Carnel’s house at Bulwell & at the different houses at Lambley in Octr. last

his
Joseph x Mellors
mark

Acknowledged before me one of his Majesty’s justices of the peace for the said County

this 23rd of July 22nd 1817

Lanct. Rolleston 


I, John Lomas of the parish of Bulwell do hereby acknowledge myself to have been actively concerned in breaking frames at Lambley in Octr. last & also at Thos, Carnells at Bulwell last winter.

Acknowledged before me
one of his Majesty’s justices
of the Peace for the County
of Nottingham

John
his X mark
Lomas

Lanct. Rolleston


I, Nathan Diggle of Basford in the County of Nottingham do hereby acknowledge myself to have been actively concerned in breaking frames at Mullins & Wrights at Radford, at Carnell’s at Bulwell, at the different houses in Lambley, & at Bramley, at Bramcote, all in the last two years

Nathan Diggle

Acknowledged before me
One of his Majesty’s justices
Of the Peace for the County of
Notts. This 27th of Aug. 1817

Lanct. Rolleston

31st October 1816: Henry Enfield reports a 'renewal of framebreaking' to the Home Office

Sir

I inclose, for the information of Lord Sidmouth, a Statement of a renewal of Framebreaking—It furnishes another instance of the Accuracy of our Agent’s Information—for, you will recollect, he told us, in his Report of the 24th Instant of this intended Attack upon the wide Frames at Bulwell—

I write with you in your Sentiments relative to the Watch & Ward Act, expressed in your letter with which I have been honored this Afternoon—& sincerely hope that its Effects will realize the expectations raised—"The Constables", however, alluded to in the Report of the 24th Inst, as having prevented the Excursions of the Nottingham Luddites, were the Police Officers whom the magistrates have for a considerable time past had out upon nightly Patrole. The Watch & Ward went out for the first time on the 26th Inst

I have [etc]
H Enfield

[To] Rt Hble J H Addington
&c

30th October 1816: Informer's report on Nottinghamshire Luddites

30th October 1816.—

I went to the Kingstone's Arms last Saturday according to appointment saw Fell, Joe Gelsthorpe and Peter Green there—Fell said he had asked Holbrook and Beef Smith to go to Bulwell and they both refused.—He had not seen Shaw or Abel Smith.—He meant to see them and let me know the next night, but he did not come and I went to Mansfield on Monday morning and staid there till last night.—I have heard that Shaw went to my house on Monday night but have not learnt for what.—This morning I was with John Lomas Junr, and said to him, why these chaps have not done the job as they should of done (alluding to the Frames broke at Bulwell on Monday night) He said "Oh they were only Basford chaps and only 14 of them"–They broke into a House where there were no Frames and I asked him how that happened.—He said they were told better but made a mistake and got the wrong end of the row.—He said they intended coming again with more strength as there were 5 or 6 Basford Chaps that did not come as was expected.—They shot at Carnall's Window he said—He told me that one of the went into Carnall's bed room and threatened to shoot him and he  begged of them not to hurt him as he had no Frames there and told them where they were and to go and use their pleasure, and one of them said "Damn you give me the Pistol and if you wont shoot him I will" but the man having the Pistol refused to do it saying we’ll only break his Frames—I have not learnt who were there except, Lomas (I believe) was one from what he told me.—Joseph West told me this morning that they meant to come again from Basford last night but were put off but that they would be there again this week—I have heard nothing more about the House of Industry at Basford—This afternoon I saw Badder at the Goat and we had some talk about the Job done a Bulwell.—He said he was glad to hear of its being done as it would take the attention off of Nottm and we should get 2 or 3 of our jobs done.—On Sunday he and Slater and Peter Green came to my house and told me to get my arms out of the house as there was a Police Officer coming down from London to search for and seize all Arms to prevent a Revolution.—

I can give Information to Hollingworth if I should know before hand when the intended Job at the House of Industry is to be done.—

It was stated to night at the Fox that there has been a serious riot at Birmingham that some Soldiers had been shot, when a Soldier with the 73d said they were damned fools for shooting at the Soldiers for they were ready to help them if there was an opportunity and they would soon see which side the soldiers were for if they would all rise together—This was spoken openly in a large Company.—

Badder, Adam & Winrow were there.—

The proceedings of G. Henson are approved of.*

*This alludes to the prosecutions against Hosiers for paying their Workmen otherwise than in money—H.E. [i.e. Henry Enfield - a note added to the report]

29th October 1816: Luddites break 4 wide frames in Bulwell, Nottinghamshire

At around 1.30 a.m. on Tuesday 29th October 1816, a group of Luddites raided properties in Bulwell, Nottinghamshire, and broke several wide knitting frames.

Reports in the regional newspapers were brief, but one of the targets of the raid, Thomas Carnell, later gave a deposition to the authorities, which is below. Carnell was a frameworknitter & gamekeeper who appears to have let out frames that he owned:

Thomas Carnell of Bulwell Frameworkknitter—About half past one yesterday morning I was alarmed by the Dogs barking in the Stable—I jumped out of bed directly and took up my Gun which was by my bed side, and went to the Window & took the Window Curtain down and endeavoured to raise my Gun in a direction to fire upon the persons in the Yard—It was very dark and I could not see the persons—but I could hear them under the Wwindow, saying “Damn your eyes, come along"—Whilst I stood at the Window which was but for a very short time there were 3 or 4 pieces flashed in the pan from the persons below.—I drew to one corner of the Window and immediately two pieces were fired loaded with Shot, into the Window—The Window was broken & the Shot lodged in the Window Frame and in the room also.—As soon as they had done that, they struck the house door twice as appeared to me with a Big hammer or Hatchet—The door was thereby immediately forced open.—and they ran up Stairs crying come along, bring a light, and they turned to the Shop—and some of them said "Damn his eyes, go and kill him, shoot him", and one of them immediately forced my room door, having a Candle in one hand and a Pistol in the other—and a Handkerchief tied over his mouth and Nose—he never Spoke—he came about half a yard into the room and seeing me he drew back again immediately and drew the door to with his hand, I told him there was nothing there for him, and the first man that came in I would shoot him—he appeared a Broad set man about 5 ft 6 or 7 dressed in a dark colored Coat and light Waistcoat & Hat—I was sitting upon my bed with my Gun presented when he came in—It was primed and loaded but I did not fire, for I was afraid of my life—After the man went out of the room, 3 or 4 of them seemed to be standing at the door, others were in the Shop breaking the Frames, & others were down stairs out of Doors saying "All’s well"—"Those in the Shop were shouting "Damn it break all Wide Frames, don't break Narrow Frames"—None of them spoke to me—I do suspect Summers of Arnold to be one from Voice—but I could not swear to him—They might be 20 minutes in the house & all went away together & at the yard end one of the party called over the numbers, saying 5, 10, 15 &c &c—I suppose this was done instead of calling the names—and that the men answered to the numbers—one piece was then fired off and several others flashed—They went into another part of the Village and broke into an unoccupied house and broke 2 wide Frames, one working to me—They then tried to break into the house of one John Keys—but the door was very strong and did not give way—I left my house with my Gun & went with my uncle & Thomas Marriott towards that part of the Village where the men were gone & I fired off both my Barrels* and shouted and halloed to give the alarm & I believe that this alarmed them and that they went away on that account—My uncle next morning traced the marks of many feet towards Arnold—I went yesterday to Mr. Rolleston a Magistrate to give him Notice— 

The Frames broken in my house were 4 wide Frames, value £40—they Frames were very much destroyed—There were several other wide Frames of mine in Bulwell.— 

30th October 1816.. 

*Carnell is a Game keeper

24th October 1816: Informer's report on Nottinghamshire Luddites

24th October 1816

I went to Arnold last Thursday and saw Fell and Joe Gelthorpe and told them what Green had said, that the Arnold Chaps were expected to go to Bulwell and break the wife Frames there—Fell said he thought they could not get as many as would be necessary to do it as many of the Arnold Chaps would not go with Ned White, whom he said would go any time, but he said he would mention it to them—Gelsthorpe said he would go, and Fell said he would—I was there again yesterday morning and Fell and Gelsthorpe said they had mentioned it but could only get six to go, but that they had no Fire Arms and requested to be provided with some and they would go on Sunday night if they could have other assistance.—They said they could get plenty to go and smash every thing in the House of Industry, and that it had been agreed upon to be done, but the time not fixed.—I am to see Fell again on Saturday either at Nottingham at the Kingston's Arms, or at Arnold to know what assistance can be given them and what Arms can be furnished to them.—I was with Badder last Tuesday at the Goat—He said I expected a Job at your Town last night, that all the Frames were broke—that the Basford Chaps had fetched all the Tackle (viz. the Arms) to do it on Monday night and he could not think the reason why it was not done but it must between then and next Sunday night and he desired me to call upon Bradley and enquire.—I saw him again last night and then he told me they were [through] making Rattles at Nottingham and were going to Watch and Ward again but he'd be damned if they must not be shot—I told him that the Arnold Chaps had determined to destroy all the Frames and things in the House of Industry at Bulwell—He said it must be done but there was no such thing as giving them any assistance from Nottingham, on account of the Constables who were watching at nights and they (the Ludds) could not get back in the night undiscovered—We were together at the Unicorn last night till about 11 and then Badder went and I staid till 2 or 3 and 4 or 5 others playing at Whist in the parlour—The Constables came and knocked at the door several times, and asked for the door to be opened and said somebody were playing at Cards there—The Landlord denied it and said he had only his own family there and refused to open the door to any body—We went out at the Back door—Those that I played with were not Ludds—Two of them were Bakers—The Constables said the last time they came stopped an hour I think until we left some of them followed me down the Street but I ran and they did not get to speak to me—We should have stopped longer had not the Constables been so clamorous, and the Landlord began to be uneasy—I have not heard of any attempt to break into Churchill’s Warehouse last week nor of it being intended to be done—I dont know of any thing more intended to be done.—

10th June 1816: Informer's report on Nottinghamshire Luddites

Monday 10th June 1816.—

I was not with those who broke the Frames at Radford yesterday morning & do not know to a certainty who any of them are, but from the conduct and expressions of 3 or 4 men in whose Company I have been to day whose names I do not yet know but whose persons am well acquainted with I have good reason to believe were some of them. It was at the Odd Fellows (formerly the Pelican) Radford, I saw them. A man came in that they call a Constable, and one of these men has been with Badder when I have been with him. He is about 5 [feet] 5 or 6 inches high, franfreckled, longish mouth. A Blue Great Coat with large buttons upon it but no small Coat underneath. He said the man who came in, supposed to be a Constable and who went with the Landlady into a Room privately was come to Pump the Mistress. I told him they were foolish to trust her and he said in reply she was as good a Pump as old Mrs Seymour.—There was another man sat in the House whom he said they set to get his piece off by Candle light on Saturday night till ten o'Clock I think he said, at Wrights, as I understand him before his Frame was broke and I understood him that that man had a Brother whose Frame was saved.—He said they have taken two but we have got good evidence to prove one was in Narrow Marsh and the other at the Odd Fellows at the time the Frames were broke. I could not learn any of their names a man with thick lips he said acted as Waiter on Saturday night and that he supposed saved him from being apprehended. Some of them I understood got into the Water House and had some ale there and dressed in their disguises.—

Some Chaps came from Hucknall to Bulwell last Sunday but one — Three of the named Clarke, two of them brothers and the other their Father – They asked me if I thought all the wide Frames in Bulwell could be broken in one night,—where they were and how many there were – I told them I thought they could all be broke in one night but could not tell exactly where they all stood. They asked to learn where they are and told me that Arnold is quite ready and they were ready at Hucknall and were doing their Exercise every night. I said I would get to know if I could. I expect they will want me to pilot them when they are ready and have fixed to do the Job. I was at Arnold last Thursday and was with Geo. Shaw and Fell. They spoke against doing anything till the Petition had gone to Parliament, and they spoke as if the Petition was of little use but they had better try. I have not seen Badder since I was here last. I learnt that they broke the Frames yesterday morning because they gave abated prices and the woman had so many girls prentice at running.—

26th January 1812: Frame-breaking early and late in the day across Nottinghamshire

In the early hours of Sunday 26th January, Luddites struck at Clifton, breaking 20 stocking frames there and a week after the last attack in the small village of Ruddington, breaking 14 frames there. The aftermath of the attack left only 2 functioning frames in Ruddington.

However, the alarm had been raised, and Hussars stationed at Nottingham, as well as the Bunny troop of Yeomanry Cavalry proceeded to the area and blocked all the bridges crossing the river Trent. Seeing their obvious escape routes blocked, the Luddites stole a boat, apparently called 'Aaron's boat', near to Clifton, and used it to cross the Trent. Upon reaching the opposite bank and before fleeing into the night, they discharged their pistols into the air.

On Sunday evening, Luddites visited Bagthorpe and Underwood, breaking up to 45 frames there. They also broke 1 frame at Bulwell, but 7 of the Berkshire Militia were stationed nearby and a gunfight ensued when the Militiamen came across the Luddites after they had done their work. The Luddites escaped, leaving behind a hammer and a shoe.

11th January 1812: Arson at Bulwell

On Saturday evening the 11th January, a hay stack belonging to Henry Sells was set alight at Bulwell, but the fire was extinguised by 2 or 3 people "without doing much damage".

8th January 1812: Windmill attacked at Bulwell Forest, arson at Bagthorpe

On Wednesday evening the 8th January, a windmill at Bulwell Forest was broken into, and some of the machinery was damaged.

At Bagthorpe Farm, a barn belonging to a Mrs Dakin was set alight and largely destroyed, along with the contents.

4th January 1812: Frames destroyed at Basford, Bulwell, Hucknall, Nottingham & Heanor

The new year was seeing an increasing urgency to the destruction of stocking frames by Luddites. On the afternoon of Saturday 4th January at 3 p.m., one frame was destroyed in Basford. The same afternoon, 2 frames were smashed at Bulwell, not long before they were due to be transported to Nottingham for the greater security the town offered.

In the evening, Luddites destroyed 7 frames at Hucknall Torkard, with the ironworks of 2 of the frames being taken away. Meanwhile, in the town of Nottingham, 1 lace frame was destroyed in Pomfret Street, and another in Pearl Street.

Luddites were also at work again in Derbyshire, destroying a number of stocking frames there.

28th December 1811: Coal Waggon destroyed at Bulwell

On Saturday 28th December 1811, a waggon full of coal was set alight at Bulwell, being entirely destroyed in the process. The waggon belonged to a Mr Falconbridge, a local publican.

14th December 1811: More frame-breaking in Nottinghamshire

On the evening of Saturday 14th December, and after a comparative lull in activity for several days, Luddites became active in Nottinghamshire again.

3 frames were broken in Nottingham itself: 2 at Beck Barn (now Beck Street), and 1 in the 'field house'. Another 6 frames were broken at Bulwell and 4 at Arnold.

7th December 1811: Frame-breaking in more than one County

The night of Saturday 7th December saw attacks mounted by Luddites in both Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire.

In Nottinghamshire, 6 frames were broken at Bulwell and 4 at Arnold.

In Derbyshire, Luddites were active breaking 10 frames at Pentrich, 3 at Swanwick and 2 at Riddings.

25th November 1811: One frame-broken at Chilwell and multiple attacks across the Counties.

In the early hours of the morning, one stocking frames was broken at Chilwell "the wood-work of which was chopped to pieces with an axe" and allegedly burnt.

On the same night, Conant & Baker reported that attacks also took place at Hucknall Torkard, Bulwell, Dob Park & Eastwood, with the Nottingham Journal adding Cossall and Heanor in Derbyshire.

23rd November 1811: A week of frame-breaking begins at Basford

Whatever agreements had been reached between Framework-knitters and some of the Hosiers, there were still plenty unwilling to yield to the Luddites in Nottinghamshire. And so began 6 nights of frame-breaking in Basford on Saturday night 23rd November, as attacks were taking place elsewhere.

The Leeds Mercury tells us that 20 frames were destroyed that night by "an assemblage of rioters accompanied by 15 men in military uniforms". The same publication also said that frame-breaking had taken place at Bulwell, but gave no further information.

11th November 1811: John Westley, Luddite Martyr

At dawn near the road at Bulwell Forest, and at a short distance from Edward Hollingworth's wrecked house, lay the body of the man who had been shot the night before. It would appear that his comrades had decided to leave his corpse where he had died, rather than risk returning with it and increasing the possibility they would be exposed. The man was subsequently identified as a John Westley¹, a framework-knitter originally from Leicester, but who had lived in Arnold for 12 years. Westley was a single parent, with two children aged 5 and 3, who were now orphans. The Inquest, which was held a day later, stated that a bullet had entered Westley on the left side of his body, just below the navel, and had exited on the right side, just below the ribs. The Inquest held that the death was justifiable homicide on the grounds of self-defence.

As far as is known, Westley was the only fatal casualty of the disturbances in Nottinghamshire.

10th November 1811: Attack on Edward Hollingworth's frames at Bulwell & the death of a Luddite

Edward Hollingworth, a Hosier at Bulwell in Nottinghamshire knew they were coming.¹ Prior to the Sunday evening of 10th November, he had removed some of his frames to Nottingham², barricaded his house, and enlisted the help of his brother-in-law and several friends³, all of whom had firearms. All they could do now was wait for what would come.

Late at night on the 10th, between 20 and 30 frame-breakers had left Arnold to meet up with 40 more at Bulwell Forest. They were formed into a line by a man calling himself 'Ned Ludd' who tried to instill confidence in the group, pointing out that they had 21 firearms amongst them. The Luddites then marched in single file to their destination.⁴

They arrived at Hollingworth's house at around 1 a.m. the following morning. They demanded entry to the property, or that Hollingworth surrendered the frames inside. Hollingworth refused to comply at all, and in the darkness, an exchange of fire broke out. After nearly 20 shots had been fired, the Luddites began to try to break in, using hammers. It was at this point that one of the attackers was mortally wounded by gunfire, and the shock and resulting alarm caused the attackers to briefly pause their attack and retreat, carrying the wounded man with them.

But it was not over: the anger the Luddites no doubt felt over the death of their comrade strengthened their resolve, and they returned to Hollingworth's house to renew their attack. Hollingworth and his men retreated upstairs and the two groups exchanged fire, up and down the stair-well. By now, the attackers had started to pull down the partition wall which supported the floor of the room the hosier and his men had fled to, and being in a hopeless situation, Hollingworth and his men decided to escape through a window at the back of the house.

Now undisturbed, the Luddites set about what they came for: all the frames in the property (5 wide frames and 2 warp-frames)⁵ were destroyed, along with the doors, window-frames and household furniture. Their work done, they retreated and dispersed.

8th November 1811: Letter from Ned Ludd at Nottingham to Mr H at Bulwell

Mr H

at Bulwell

Sr,

Sir if you do not pull don the Frames

or stop pay [in] Goods onely for work

extra work or m[ake] in Full fashon

my Companey will [vi]sit yr machines

for execution agai[nst] [y]ou--

Mr Bolton the Forfeit--

I visitd him--

Ned Lu[d]

Kings [illegible]

Nottinghm---Novembr 8 1811

4th November 1811: 6 Frames broken in Bulwell

Like a faint rumble of thunder in the distance, frame-breaking broke out again 2 weeks after the October incident at Arnold. Six stocking frames were broken at Bulwell, and the frame-breakers seem to have targetted them for destruction on account of their being wide-frames, of the the type used to create cut-ups ('shoddy goods' as far as the framework-knitters were concerned).The thunder would be directly overhead in but a few days time.

13th April 1811: frame breaking at Bulwell

Almost two weeks after the last reported incident of frame breaking, six more frames were destroyed at Bulwell. Thomis tells us that a reward of 100 guineas was offered, which is double the amount offered by the authorities towards the end of March.¹

Frames had already been broken in Bulwell during the fortnight following the Arnold incident, and in 7 months time, it would become a place of some notoriety.