27th July 1814: 7 frames broken at 3 locations in Nottinghamshire

In the early hours of Wednesday 27th July 1814, Luddites launched 3 raids across Nottinghamshire.

Four frames, the property of the well-known Hosier Thomas Hayne, were kept in the workshop of a framework-knitter called Hooton in Sneinton. The Luddites had arrived at 12.30 a.m., alerting Hooton and his wife to their presence when they opened the garden gate. Looking out of the bedroom window, they observed at least 12 men advancing to the house and cried out 'for god's sake, what do you mean to do?' - the response of the Luddites was a familiar one - the Hootons were ordered to go back inside or their brains would be blown out. The Hootons obeyed, but began to loudly cry out 'Murder!'. The Luddites followed this up by firing a shot and throwing a large stone at the bedroom which made the Hootons flee to another room.

In the meantime, the raiding party of Luddites had tried to gain entry to the house, but were met with great difficulty owing to shutters and iron stanchions in front of the windows. The raiders even tried to break down the wall, but eventually gained access by breaking down door. Their rage was by this time so great that they injured a pig kept in the back yard and tried to cut down Hooton's apple tree.

The Hootons were not left alone: their shouting and having locked themselves in a bedroom further enraged the Luddites, who broke the door open and threatened them to sit still and quietly on the bed. Below, every component of the 4 knitting frames were comprehensively damaged and destroyed, and four globe lamps were smashed over the frames, with the aqua fortis (nitric acid) they contained further damaging the remnants. The damage was later estimated at £100.

The Luddites also affected a robbery: £20 of lace was taken away, as well as 2 other machines worth £14, and other property.

The same group of Luddites then proceeded to New Sneinton, and the home of a Mr Cooper. There, a brand-new and unused wide-frame - the property of Messrs Holmes, Edenborough & Co - was broken. The value of this frame was estimated at £120.

Later, the Luddites paid a visit to the home of a Mr Kelsall who lived on Trumpet Street in Nottingham. Two point net frames - one the property of Messrs Cartwright, the other belonging to a Mr Harvey - were destroyed.

By 2.30 a.m., the raids were over and the frame-breaking was complete.

Three rewards of £100 each were later offered for information.

14th January 1812: Frames broken at New Radford and Sneinton

A number of frames were damaged at New Radford in the evening of Tuesday 14th January: they beonged to a Mr Slater, who opened the door expecting to be confronted with his apprentice but instead found a sword pointed at his breast. The Luddites cut the warp from the frames and took away parts of the machinery necessary for its function.

On the same evening, 2 plain cotton frames were broken by Luddites at Sneinton, the Hosier being accused of paying 'abated prices'.

25th December 1811: Frame-breaking in the Nottinghamshire villages

On the evening of Wednesday 25th December, at least one stocking frame was broken at Carlton, 3 at Sneinton and 2 in the town of Nottingham itself (North Street according to Conant & Baker).

2nd December 1811: Frames broken in Nottingham, Sneinton & New Radford

Luddites continued to make incursions into the Town of Nottingham on another night: 2 frames were destroyed in Currant Street, Turn Calf Alley & 1 frame in Warren Court, Old Street.

Outside the town, 2 frames were destroyed in Sneinton and another 5 in New Radford, for the second consecutive night.

18th November 1811: Reprisals and arson at Sneinton

Two nights after the arson attack on John Stirrup's hay rick at Mansfield, and a similar attack is launched on a hay rick belonging to a Mr Lewis of Sneinton, at Sneinton Field. A relative of Lewis was a member of the Holme-Pierrepont Yeomanry which had been called out on duty the previous week.

Although the fire was put out, and the remaining hay moved to a nearby farm-building, this building was also set alight the following night. The Luddites and/or their sympathisers were issuing clear and unambiguous warnings to the local bourgeoisie - assist in their suppression and there will be consequences.