22nd July 1817: Two frames sabotaged at Wimeswold, Leicestershire

The Leicester Chronicle of Friday 1st August reported an act of sabotage that had taken place in Wimeswold in the early hours of Tuesday 22nd July 1817:

In the night of Mondsay se'nnight, a stocking-maker's shop at John Clarke's, of Wimeswold, near Loughborough, was broken open, and the jack-wires withdrawn from two of the frames, and taken away, besides a little injury done to some of the needles. It is supposed that this serious mischief (serious indeed to the life of the perpetrator thereof, if he should be caught,) was committed at the early hour of one o'clock in the morning, as some neighbours heard a noise thereabouts. There was another frame in the shop, but is escaped being at all meddled with. Working under price is assigned as the cause of this lamentable occurrence. We also understand, that an event of a pretty similar description has recently taken place at Castle Donington.

13th August 1816: Preston weavers use sabotage, attack home of local MP & mill-owner

The Leeds Mercury of 24th August 1816 carried an article from the Preston Chronicle about unrest in Preston on Tuesday 13th August 1816, much of it targeted at the local mill-owner & MP for Preston, Samuel Horrocks:

We are sorry to state that in consequence of the manufacturers being necessitated to reduce the wages on some descriptions of cotton goods, a disposition to break the peace was manifested, by a party of weavers parading the streets of this town, on Tuesday last, and in some cases, destroying the shuttles of such as were inclined to continue at their work. Towards evening they had accumulated to a considerable body, and after consulting together they proceeded to the house of Mr. Horrocks: not finding him at home, some of the part, chiefly boys and women, commenced an attack, by breaking the windows of the house, and tearing up the shrubs in the grounds; but these outrages, not being seconded by the main body, were but of short duration. Next morning they assembled in still greater numbers at the outskirts of the town. They were met by a great posse of serjeants and corporals of the Lancaster militia, stationed in the town, who in a few hours dispersed the mob, after taking some of the most active into custody. The precautionary views of the Magistrates induced them, on the first indication of riot, to send for a party of military to Liverpool, but order was completely restored before they arrived; and the weavers have now settled themselves quietly to work again.—Preston Chronicle, August 17.

21st July 1816: Luddites sabotage 12 stocking frames at Great Wigston, Leicestershire

The Leicester Chronicle of 27th July 1816 reported another incidence of sabotage of stocking frames that took place on Sunday 21st July 1816, 6 days after a former incident in the same village:

On Sunday night last, the premises of _____ Leach, framework-knitter of Great Wigston, was entered by some person or persons who feloniously carried away some of the most necessary appendages belonging to twelve stocking frames.

15th July 1816: Framework-knitting machine parts stolen at Great Wigston, Leicestershire

The Leicester Chronicle of 20th July 1816 reported an unusual incidence of theft that took place on Monday 15th July 1816 as follows:

We regret to state, that a spirit of Luddism has begun to manifest itself in the southern as well as the northern parts of the county. A framework-knitters shop at Great Wigston, occupied by Ebenezer Deakin, was feloniously entered on Monday night last, and several frame and machine pressers, stolen therefrom.

3rd July 1816: Luddites sabotage 18 frames in Whitwick, Leicestershire

In the evening of Wednesday 3rd July 1816, Leicestershire Luddites switched tactics from frame-breaking to sabotage. The Leicester Chronicle of 13th July 1816 carried a brief story about the action:

In the night of Wednesday se'nnight, some person or persons broke open three frame work-knitters shops, viz. John Bamkin's, Wm. Braunston's, and _______ Harris's, at Whitwick, near Sheepshead, and drew out and took away the jack wires from eighteen frames, without doing any further damage to them.

31st December 1812: Attempted sabotage of Blenkinsop's Steam Engine on Hunslet Moor, near Leeds

A detail from 'The Collier' by Richard Havell (1814). This aquatint from George Walker's 'The Costume of Yorkshire' shows 'Blenkinsop's Machine', at Middleton Colliery near Leeds, in the background. This print is perhaps best known for it's use as the cover illustration for a past edition of E.P. Thompson's 'The Making of the English Working Class'

Some time during Thursday 31st January 1812, an attempt was made to derail John Blenkinsop's steam engine, which operated between Leeds and the Middleton colliery. Blocks of stone and loose iron rails were laid across the track near to Leeds Pottery. Although some of the machinery was broken, there were no injuries.

Four days later, Blenkinsop offered a reward of 50 Guineas for information that would lead to the conviction of the saboteurs.