25th February 1816: Four shearing frames broken by Luddites at Quarmby, their final action in the West Riding

At 1.00 a.m. on Sunday 25th February 1816, the final Luddite action in the West Riding took place - just after the fourth anniversary of the first actions in the County.

The Leeds Mercury of 2nd March carried the following report about the attack:

Outrage near Huddersfield.—Last Sunday morning, about two o'clock, several persons broke into the house and shop of James Roberts, of Quarmby, near Huddersfield, cloth-dresser, and after demolishing all the windows and window-frames, for several yards square, proceeded to break the shears and improved shear-frames used in the cloth-dressing business; and, having effected their lawless purpose, retired without molesting any part of the family. It is fervently to be hoped, that the outrages which disgraced the neighbourhood of Huddersfield some years ago, and which proved so fatal to their perpetrators, are not about to be renewed; but should that be the case, we are assured that the persons whose property is likely to suffer in the event of a renewal of the frame-breaking system, are determined to defend their property against any attack that may be made upon it, and to render mutual assistance to each other for this important object.

The passage was a press release by the authorities, since the Leeds Intelligencer also quoted the same text and acknowledged they had received it from Huddersfield and didn't wish to add comment.

James Roberts gave a deposition to Joseph Radcliffe on the 26th February, confirming the time of the attack as 1.00 a.m. Throughout the attack - which he said lasted for 3 hours - he remained in bed because he was so afraid, and he also confirmed that not one word was uttered by the attackers. Attached to the deposition was an estimate of the cost of the damage: 3 broken frames, 1 damaged frame, and 4 pairs of hand shears - £16, 17 shillings sixpence; and for damage to the windows, £25, 17 shillings sixpence.

20th April 1813: Cases of machine-breaking & compensation at the Chester Lent Assizes

The Chester Lent Assizes of 1813 saw some residual matters from the outbreaks of Luddism of 12 months previously come before it.

Two men from Newton, near Hyde, were before the Court for breaking machinery: John Cooper, a 23 year-old collier was charged with destroying a blowing machine belonging to Messrs Sidebottom at Mottram-in-Longdendale, and John Smith Rigby a 22 year-old hatter, the latter charged with breaking the only shearing-frames outside of West Yorkshire at Tintwistle 12 months earlier. Their prospects were not good, not least because 3 of the manufacturers targetted in the attacks had urged the Home Secretary to bring the matters to court. However, they were acquitted & discharged by proclamation, although they both had to enter into a recognizance for £40 to appear before the court if called upon.

In addition, the Manufacturers affected by the disturbances successfully brought cases for compensation against the relevant local authorities, and the outcome was as follows (the defendants names are the Constables for the relevant parishes in the hundred of Macclesfield):

Sidebottom v Garside - £220. 9s.
Turner v Cartwright - £27. 10s.
Rhodes v Garside - £80.
Thornley v Garside - £50.
Sidebotham v Garside - £45.
Wood v Garside - £58.
Wood v Vaux - £80. 8s. 8d.
S. Malkin v Vaux - £31. 8s. 5½d.
W. Malkin v Vaux - £7. 16s. 2½d.
Mason v Cartwright - £31. 16s.
Allen v Cartwright - £5. 12s. 6d.
Jacob v Cartwright - £1030.
Clegg v Cartwright - £29.
Goodier v Cartwright - £437
Holland v Vaux - £21. 15s. 1d.
Radcliffe v Cartwright - £70.
Hindley v Cartwright - £56. 6d.
Rowland v Cartwright - £5
Orme v Vaux - £21. 5s. 1d.

7th September 1812: Shearing frames destroyed at Gildersome, near Morley

In the second attack in the West Riding within three days, Luddites were at work at a mill in Gildersome, near Morley in the early hours of Monday 7th September 1812.

At 1.00 a.m., a group of Luddites arrived at the woollen mill belonging to Richard Lindsey & Sons. The doors were broken open, and 17 pairs of shears, along with shearing frames they were mounted on, were destroyed. No lights were lit and the whole action was concluded within 20 minutes.

The premises had been regularly guarded by the military until the lifting of the Orders in Council by government some weeks ago, when the available work increased and it was assumed they would be safe.

8th May 1812: William Cartwright's shears stolen from grinder & destroyed near Wakefield

William Cartwright had sent 11 pairs of shears, used in his shearing frames, to be sharpened at a grinders in Wakefield. On Friday 8th May 1812, they were taken to a field at a distance, along with 2 pairs belonging to someone else, and broken.

21st April 1812: More rioting & machine-breaking in Lancashire & Cheshire

Following the large scale rioting that had taken place in the North West the previous day, further outbreaks occurred, mixed with some machine-breaking at the eastern limits of what was then Cheshire.

At Denton in Lancashire, large crowds collected in the forenoon and proceeded towards Hyde, in Cheshire. Once there, they attacked a mill belonging to John Ashton and first practised autoreduction before more straightforwardly taking the flour.

A short distance away, at the village of Gee Cross, mobs attacked provision shops - in particular one belonging to a Ralph Booth - and distributed meal and flour to crowds of mainly women, who carried it away in anything they could find. An elderly local man joined in, writing 'General Ludd' on a piece of paper and putting it around his hat.

Later, the crowds from Gee Cross joined those in Hyde to proceed to via Butterhouse Green to Bredbury, where they attacked Joseph Clay's Arden Mill on the banks of the Tame. The crowd distributed around £200-worth of flour before the Stockport solicitor, John Lloyd, arrived with 12 cavalry. The military fired shots to disperse the crowd, and Lloyd made 6 arrests.

At Tintwistle, which at that time lay in Cheshire, there was a mixture of food rioting and machine-breaking. Provision shops were entered, including one belonging to an Elice Berry, and autoreduction engaged in, with goods such as flour, meal, bacon and groceries distributed to the crowd.

Several Mills were attacked: the Vale House Mill, a cotton spinning and weaving concern belonging to Robert Thornley, had machinery and tools broken. Thornley's life was also apparently threatened.

At Millbrook, on the borders of Hollingworth and Tintwistle, a Mill belonging to the Sidebottom family was attacked, and machinery broken there.

Seven shearing frames belonging to a Thomas Rhodes were also destroyed in another mill, when a crowd of 400 people attacked it. This appears to be the only example of the destruction of shearing frames outside of the West Riding.

9th April 1812: Attack on the Mill of Joseph Foster at Horbury, near Wakefield

Up until the 9th April, Luddite attacks in the West Riding of Yorkshire had been aimed at smaller establishments, in particular cropping shops owned by the smaller masters and worked by only a few workmen. Were it not a one-off up until then, the attack on the premises of Francis Vickerman of Taylor Hill on 15th March could have suggested a shift in pattern to attacking larger establishments. That trend was affirmed on the night of 9th April when large numbers of Luddites attacked the extensive Mill complex of Joseph Foster at Horbury, near Wakefield.

That night anywhere between 300 to 600 Luddites had assembled on the road between Wakefield and Horbury. They had come from different locations, such as Huddersfield, Dewsbury, Heckmondwike, Gildersome, Morley & Wakefield. They were organised into sections, and moved off, with 10 Luddites mounted on horses at the front and 10 at the rear, all carrying drawn swords.

They reached the Mill at midnight on the 10th April, surrounding it and the family residence owned by the Fosters. All the routes into and out of the Mill were secured with guards, although the chances of them being disturbed were slim, as the nearest military units were stationed 11 miles away. Most of the Luddites carried weapons, reportedly hatchets, clubs and fire-arms, and all of those seen by the witnesses were disguised.

Joseph Foster himself was not resident at the adjoining house that night, but 5 of his sons were - James, Thomas, Joseph Bedford, John and Josiah were asleep as the Luddites assembled outside.

The four sons were soon awakened by noise: they lay in bed in terror as they heard the breaking of windows and doors coming from the weaving shop next door. They could soon hear more breaking noises coming from inside: the mill contained a blacksmith's shop, warehouse, press shop, scribbling mill, fulling mill and a dye house and the noise was coming from all of these locations.

James Foster, who was the foreman of the Mill, lived in a separate house adjoining the main dwelling and the Luddites smashed his windows and soon broke down the front door. He had not dared to stir, but the Luddites were soon in his bedroom demanding the keys to the premises. He did not have them, and the Luddites were soon moving to the next house where the 4 other brothers lay terrified in bed. Another door was broken down, and the Luddites first confronted Thomas & John Bedford Foster demanding the keys - Thomas indicated they were kept in the next room, where John & Josiah slept, and the Luddites forced the two brothers out of bed, finally obtaining the keys. John & Josiah noticed that the upstairs rooms and staircase were full of men who were either masked or had blackened faces. Still in their underwear, they were hurried downstairs and out into the yard between the houses and the Mill - the yard was packed with Luddites, "almost impassable" in the words of Josiah.

The Luddites made Josiah open the door to the scribbling mill, demanding to see the machines. In his fear, Josiah led them to where the scribbling mill was kept, but the men were soon expressing their displeasure, this machine not being that they had in mind - they had come for the shearing frames. They frog-marched Josiah to another door, but the keys had been left behind, so the door was smashed asunder. Everything inside was to be destroyed, shearing frames and conventional hand shears, 2 gig mills and even some cloth. At the same time, John & Josiah were ordered out into the yard, and to lie down. While the destruction took place they were tied up, bound together, with one Luddite posted as a guard. Someone had started a fire in the warehouse.

Excitement and noise was in the air, and shots from guns rang out from time to time, although the guns weren't aimed at any of the Fosters. John & Josiah's guard urged them to stand up, as best they could. When their work was over, the leaders formed the huge group into three units, which took some time. The Luddites left at around 1.00 a.m., leaving behind the man left to guard John & Josiah. After a while, the solitary Luddite urged the brothers to get up and go inside, following them to the door. With that, he wished them "good night" and moved with haste back to the yard, where the darkness swallowed him up.

The brothers waited a short while and Thomas and Joseph Bedford joined them, and then James from next door, untieing their bonds. Their first priority was to put the fire out, which they soon managed, helped by the fact the wind was not helping to fan the flames on this night. In the distance, they could hear distant noises and voices from different directions. The brothers later thought that the Luddites had dispersed in various columns towards Wakefield, Leeds, Halifax and Huddersfield.

Reports later reached the press and authorities from various quarters that many of the Luddites had headed across the Huddersfield Road on Grange Moor, where they were observed at 3.00 a.m. Some others went through Horbury on the Wakefield Road - passing another house belonging to Joseph Foster, they fired a volley of shots into the air. The elderly Foster was apparently present and heard and was shocked by the shots.

The raid on Foster's Mill had been a huge success, and an operation equalling the military in planning and coordination. The Luddites must have taken huge confidence from it and already had other targets lined up. It was now only a matter of time before another large establishment was attacked.

6th April 1812: Mutiple Luddite raids near Holmfirth and Honley

In the early hours of Monday 6th April, a series of Luddite raids were mounted a fair distance south of Huddersfield.

At around midnight, the Luddites arrived, in considerable numbers & with blacked faces, at the workshop of a Mr Smith of Snowgatehead. All the dressing frames and hand shears that belonged to him were broken.

The same group of Luddites next chose the workshop of Joseph Brook of Horn Coat, a mile down the road, as their next target. This time, not only were all of the dressing frames and hand shears were broken, but also Joseph Brook's household furniture and windows were smashed.

At 2.00 a.m., the group arrived at the workshop of James Brook at Reins, three miles distant from Horn Coat and close to Honley. Although Brook had taken his single dressing frame down 5 weeks ago, the Luddites clearly didn't trust him and insisted on destroying the constituent parts. Brook pleaded with the Luddites to not break his hand shears and they agreed.

Thereafter, they dispersed into the darkness.

24th March 1812: Shearing Mill attacked at Rawdon, near Leeds

In the early hours of Tuesday the 24th March, Luddites approached the Shearing Mill of William Thompson & Bros at Rawdon, north-west of Leeds.

Between 40 and 150 armed Luddites arrived near to the Mill between midnight and 4 a.m. The solitary watchmen was shocked when a pistol was fired close to him - 6 to 7 Luddites grabbed him & once entry had been gained, pushed him inside the mill, holding him on the floor. They now stood guard over him.

The gunshot & noises had woken people in adjoining dwellings, and more Luddites were posted as guards outside, warning the occupants against opposition or attempts to raise the alarm.

The commander of the group then gave his order to the remaining Luddites, "go to work." 30 to 40 pairs of shears were destroyed, and other machinery damaged, all within 20 minutes.

The destruction complete, the Luddites moved into formation on a nearby hill. A roll was called, with numbers instead of names, and the men thereafter dispersed into the night.

15th March 1812: Attack on the home and workshop of Francis Vickerman

Up until Sunday 15th March, Luddite attacks in the Huddersfield area had been limited to the workshops of small master clothdressers who had installed relatively few shearing frames in their premises. But at 8.30 p.m. that night, an audacious attack was launched against a well-known merchant manufacturer, and a large business concern in Huddersfield, Francis Vickerman. Vickerman was on the 'Committee for Suppressing the Outrages' that had recently formed in Huddersfield, and had received a threatening letter prior to the attack. Furthermore, being so influential his premises were guarded at night by some of the Dragoons stationed in Huddersfield. They usually arrived at his home in Taylor Hill, Almondbury by 9.00 p.m., so by undertaking an attack earlier than than that time meant that the Luddites were breaking the pattern of attacks in the small hours and taking much more risks. The attack had to have been planned with military efficiency.

The group of Luddites had posted lookouts at Brooks Corner, close to where the Dragoons assembled to leave for Taylor Hill. Their job was to fire pistol shots to alert the Luddites to the progress of the military. In addition, 3 young men who served as bell ringers at Huddersfield Church were persuaded to ring the bells when alerted so that the Luddites would know the troops were on their way.

By 8.30, the main group of at least 50 Luddites had reached Vickerman's and announced their arrival with a gunshot. 2 Luddites entered the family home, demanding to know where Vickerman was. When he appeared one of them announced "Ned Ludd of Nottingham has ordered me to break this clock" and promptly smashed a nearby clock with the muzzle of his blunderbuss. Vickerman fled back upstairs into his room and did not emerge until the Luddites had gone. Meanwhile, more Luddites were placed to guard Vickerman's family.

By now, the rest of the Luddites had begun to smash open the doors of Vickerman's warehouse with hammers. They eventually gained access to the dressing shop, and set about destroying the 10 shearing frames and 30 pairs of hand shears that were kept there. Others set about breaking the windows of the warehouse and dwelling house.

By now, the lookouts had noticed that the Dragoons had assembled, and the church bells in Huddersfield began to ring. The Luddites knew time was short, but they completed their work, and when the machinery was smashed several of them shouted "Out! out!" In the warehouse, they had left 2 pieces of cloth and some wool on stove, in an attempt to start a fire, although this never took hold and was later extinguished without doing any damage.

Before leaving, some of them emptied their weapons into Vickerman's house, though other Luddites inside protested loudly about this and no one was harmed. The Luddites were summoned by their leader that night to a nearby field, and the roll was called to make sure all were present.

The lookouts now fired a shot to alert the Luddites that the Dragoons had reached Chapel Hill, and soon after one from Knowle Hill. But the Luddites had left Vickerman's and were making their way home. They had wrought complete destruction within the 30 minutes they had allotted themselves an struck a blow at the heart of one of their main capitalist enemies.

12th March 1812: Luddite raids in South Crosland, Honley & Lockwood

In the early hours of Thursday 12th March, the scene was set for yet more attacks by Luddites in the vicinity of Huddersfield.

Between midnight and 1.00 a.m. George Roberts of South Crosland awoke to a violent knocking on his door, and the sound of many voices in the dark, some of them demanding entry. He got up and stood behind the door and asked what they wanted - a reply came back "we'll let you see what we want!" and the knocking continued. Roberts decided to open the door to prevent it being damaged and a number of men immediately pushed past him: their faces were either blacked or covered in crude masks of black cloth with holes for the eyes and mouth. By now, the rest of the family was awake, and the Luddites moved to guard them. One of the Luddites whose face was covered by a white napkin said to Roberts' wife, Sarah, "tell your father that if he does not take his frames down I'll go to Marsden next week with 400 men." Sarah's maiden name was Armitage, and her father Joseph owned Woodbottom Mill at Marsden.


Roberts tried to reason with the Luddites - he explained that he had taken down all his shearing frames and begged them not to break his conventional shears when one of them gave the order to "go forward". Roberts was desperate and then one of them said "if you have taken your frames down we'll not injure your shears". Meanwhile, a group of the Luddites broke away to search the premises, with another Luddite grabbing Roberts and placing a pistol next to his head and ordered him not to move but to sit on the floor. The Luddites returned from upstairs angry at having found nothing - they demanded to know where his frames were. Roberts conceded that his frames were kept in his barn and urged the Luddites to take his keys rather than break open the door. He heard the men go to the barn and shortly after the sound of hammers splintering the wooden frames in fury.

The Luddites called Roberts to go out into the yard: 4 pistols were levelled at his head and the Luddites gave him a stern warning "if you put your frames up again we'll blow your brains out". Roberts was shattered, and agreed not to do so.

Finally, the Luddites formed themselves into ranks, whilst another led a roll call, but with numbers rather than names. Roberts later estimated there were 30 of them. The roll called, one of them raised a pistol into the air and a loud shot rang out. Thereafter they disappeared into the night. The operation had taken 15 minutes.

At 1.15 a.m., John Garner of Honley was awoken by a a violent hammering which seemed to be coming from his workshop next to his house. He got up. He distinctly heard someone say "watch the windows, take care of the windows!". Garner decided to stay put.

Between the hammering blows in his workshop, he heard someone loudly say "if thou cannot use that Maul, better give it me". Eventually, the noise ceased. He heard footsteps at the steps of the cellar, which led from the workshop to his house, and then he heard the door give way, they were inside his house. He heard them moving around inside when one of them said "there's nothing here, nor nobody, quick!" and they went back into the cellar and to the workshop.

Some time later, someone called "all out!" and the men assembled outside. A gun was fired into the night, and them marched off in a veritable hubbub, shouting and talking loudly.

Garner made his way downstairs. He went to fetch his gun, but found it had gone, stolen by the intruders. He rushed to his workshop and surveyed the toll of destruction left by the Luddites: 3 shearing frames and 7 pairs of conventional hand shears had been smashed and destroyed, and the door of the workshop badly damaged.

Clement Dyson was away at York Assizes. Between 2.00 and 2.30 a.m. his wife, Hannah, was awoken by many voices talking. David Crowther, an apprentice of Dyson's who was staying there was also awoken. He got out of bed and went down to see what the fuss was, but was shocked to hear some loud shots ring out. Someone demanded entry, but when Crowther went to open it, but was told to move back or he would be shot. He decided to go back upstairs, pausing to look through a hole in the wall which adjoined the workshop. Hannah could hear the workshop door being broken and from his vantage point, Crowther could make out almost 40 men who immediately moved to smash the shearing frames and hand shears there with large hammers.

Their work done, the Luddites grouped around the front of the house. They broke all the windows in the house and began to break down the door, and when the door yielded, one of them called out "house! house! bring out your other shears!". By now, both Hannah and Crowther were downstairs and 5 men had entered the house. Crowther explained that there were no more shears on the premises as they were away being sharpened at the grinders.

The Luddites demanded something to drink, and Hannah sent Crowther to fetch some water. But then a shot was fired outside and the Luddites turned and left, not waiting for Crowther, who returned with the water to find himself alone again with Hannah.

Crowther and Hannah went to the workshop to see what the damage was: the Luddites had destroyed 2 shearing frames, a brushing machine and 7 pairs of hand shears, as well as 2 barrels, 2 tubs, a churn and a watering can.

5th March 1812: Mutiple attacks on shearing frame owners at Linthwaite

On the evening of Thursday 5th March, Luddites gathered at their pre-arranged meeting place at Dry Clough Lane, Lockwood. A small party of 16 were met by others from Dalton, but a rainy night had left the Dalton men completely drenched by the time they turned up, and the decision was made that they should therefore return home.

The first to be visited by the group that night was Samuel Swallow of Linthwaite, in the early hours of 6th March. The Luddites demanded entry, knocking violently at his door, threatening to break it open. Swallow rushed out of bed and opened the door. Several men rushed past him, and soon started to search the property for candles. A man who had his face blacked ordered Swallow upstairs and onto his bed, where he held him at gun point. Another man joined him and stood at the foot of the bed, pointing another gun at him.

In Swallow's workshop, the Luddites were at work smashing his machinery and other items: the toll exacted that night included 2 shearing frames, along with a brushing machine and 4 pairs of hand cropping shears.

When it was over, the Luddites wished him goodnight before they left reminding him to lock his door, which he promptly did.

At Hoyle House in Linthwaite, Sarah Sykes was alone, her clothdresser husband being away from home. Just before 2.00 a.m. she was awoken by a great hammering at both the front and back door - someone was breaking in. She got up, and saw about 20 men with blackened faces coming through the door. They lit some candles them had with them and some of them made their way to the workshop where the soon set about smashing what was there - her husband's solitary shearing frame and 4 pairs of hand shears.

One of the men asked her where her husband was, but then another shouted from outside "call all your men down", and they turned and left. They moved outdoors into the night, and darkness soon swallowed them.

At the house of William Cotton, his servant John Sykes was alone when he heard a loud knocking at his master's door, someone shouting out to them them in. He opened the door and 30 men came in, all of them in disguise. They stood around him, firing questions at him, "where was his master?", "where did they keep the guns, pistols, ammunition?" Frightened half to death, Sykes explained Cotton was away and the Luddites moved to search the house, placing the other occupants present under guard. They took a pound of candles, and then set about destroying Cotton's machines and cloth dressing equipment - 2 pairs of hand shears and a brushing machine. A man who seemed to be in charge came over and made a clear threat - that if Cotton attempted to install any more machinery, they would return and blow up the whole premises.

At 2.30 a.m., John Swallow of Linthwaite was woken by a loud noise: hammering on his door, voices shouting & demanding to be let in. His wife got up and went downstairs, letting the men in. They lit a candle and demanded the keys to her husband's workshop. Having secured the keys, they opened the shop door and destroyed what was there - 2 shearing frames and 11 pairs of hand shears. Bringing the keys back they bade the shocked family good night and headed into the dark.

27th February 1812: Attack on workshop of William Hinchliffe at Leymoor, Golcar, near Huddersfield

William Hinchliffe awoke in shock. It was 1 a.m. and the sound of a gunshot had rushed him headlong out of his slumber. He almost fell out of bed and peered outside from his bedroom window - he could make out the silhouettes of many men below, all around his house. He hadn't time to count them, but thought there must be about 50 of them, a veritable army. In what little light there was, Hinchliffe could make out that their faces were marked black and white. Still shocked he could now hear some banging: someone was hammering at the door of his workshop. It gave way and he heard his shearing frames and shears being smashed and broken.

He ran out of his bedroom and gathered his family about him. They all went down to the parlour and closed the door tight. Just then he heard more hammering, this time on his own front door, which soon gave way. He heard voices "Where is he? Bring him out, let's kill him!" Soon after they were in & one started to pull on the parlour door handle, but another intruder shouted out "let him alone for this time". He could another approach and call out from the other side of the door "if you cause us to come again upon this subject, we'll take your life".

Another voice from outside called the men on the other side of the parlour door to come out, and an order followed to "fall in". He heard many boots stamping around his yard outside as they assembled. Not long after, they moved off.

Hinchliffe waited for some time afterwards before he dared open the parlour door. Making his way to his workshop, he surveyed the toll of destruction the Luddites had wrought on him: all 5 of his shearing frames were smashed, as well 30 pairs of conventional hand shears.

22nd February 1812: Attacks on shearing frames at Marsh & Crosland Moor, near Huddersfield

Saturday night the 22nd February was to herald the commencement proper of Luddism in the West Riding of Yorkshire. From this night onwards and for several weeks, night-time raids would be made on shearing frames in 'cropping shops' around the areas of the Spen Valley & Huddersfield, the heartland of the West Yorkshire cloth finishing industry.

The Luddites initially assembled in a field at Rashcliffe at around 11 p.m., waiting until midnight to see who else had decided to take part in the raid that evening, with around 45 men eventually assembling. There was some debate about which nearby targets to select, with the large local establishment at Bradley Mills being rejected in favour of smaller workshops. The men were drilled, forming into three companies, with each man being given a number. Each man was disguised and some had brought firearms.

At Joseph Hirst's cropping shop at Marsh, work was still taking place when the Luddite vanguard arrived. Those in the front of the attack carried fire-arms and demanded entry. This being given, some of the group kept watch whilst those with hammers set about destroying 7 shearing frames and 24 pairs of conventional cropping shears. It was hard work and 2 attempts had to be made to ensure the destruction was fully complete.

The Luddites were in high spirits, with shots being fired and eventually windows broken although the leadership of the group quickly moved to put a stop to both. Some made threats against Hirst, but the leaders promised that no violence against his person would occur on this occasion, but if it were necessary for the Luddites to return, they would finish the job.

The party then moved off via Longroyd Bridge towards Crosland Moor and the premises of James Balderstone, whose business was a smaller affair, employing only one shearing frame. The house was in darkness, with Balderstone having retired to bed, so the Luddites had to force entry, which promptly awakened him. Balderstone threatened to shoot the intruders, but shortly afterwards, the Luddites broke the door down. Posting sentries outside whilst others held Balderstone and his wife at gunpoint, the remaining Luddites went upstairs to where the single shearing frame was located and smashed it to pieces. As with the raid on Hirst, 8 pairs of conventional cropping shears were also destroyed.

By 2.00 a.m. on the 23rd, the Luddites work was complete and they left, one of them firing a shot into the air.