2nd December 1811: Derbyshire Hosiers concede to Luddite intimidation

Following the frame-breaking and show of force by the Derbyshire Luddites of the previous night, it appeared that the Derbyshire Hosiers were now only too ready to concede terms.

The Nottingham Review¹ reported that a printed bill dated the 2nd December had been drawn up by various Derbyshire Hosiery firms for the express purpose of attaching to specific frames in workshops bearing the following message:

"THIS FRAME IS MAKING FULL FASHIONED WORK, AT THE FULL PRICE."

In their report, Conant & Baker² took a retrospectively dim view of this, stating it "could not fail to give the most damning encouragement to the Spirit which dictated them."

The Derby Mercury of the 12th December states that Luddites who had visited Pentrich on the 1st December visited again "the following evening" but left without taking any action "finding in the mean time that the prices had been raised", although it did go on to say they had broken a frame each at Oakerthorpe, Wessington & South Wingfield Park.

---

1. Nottingham Review 6th December 1811.
2. The report is at HO 42/119.