8th January 1813: Shots fired into Joseph Radcliffe's home, Milnsbridge House

Milnsbridge House today, as depicted by Richard Littlewood (photo used with permission)

Three months after a similar attack, and timed symbolically at midnight on Friday 8th January 1813 - the day Mellor, Thorpe and Smith were scheduled to hang - Joseph Radcliffe's home, Milnsbridge House, was attacked.

Two shots were fired into a window of the house, without causing any injury. The perpetrators escaped, their footsteps being traced by the guards into neighbouring woods.

In a letter written to General Maitland two days later, General Acland thought that the commanding officer reporting the incident to him "had made a great deal of what in itself is trifling". Despite that, the symbolism of this raid was powerful and clear.

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As reported in the Leeds Intelligencer of 11th January 1813. Acland's letter of 10th January can be found at HO 40/2/8.

We previously used this image above the post:

Milnsbridge House in May 2008: image copyright nualabugeye (flickr profile)