Wednesday, 6 June 2012

6th June 1812: Luddites drilling at Soothill Wood, West Ardsley

At 10.00 p.m. on Saturday 6th June, 'a number of men' armed with muskets were seen to be drilling on the edge of Soothill Wood in the Parish of West Ardsley.

A Mr Hemsworth of Woodchurch later deposed that he heard drilling at the same location between 1.00 & 2.00 a.m. the following morning at the same location.

As reported in the Leeds Mercury of 13th June 1812. The evidence of Hemsworth comes from a letter from the Vice Lieutenant of the West Riding, Francis Lindley Wood, to the Home Office of 11th June 1812.

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