30th December 1812: Rising number of Luddite incidents in Nottinghamshire

The 2nd January 1812 edition of the Morning Post carried an article dated Wednesday 30th December 1812 which related the increasing number of Luddite incidents that had taken place in Nottinghamshire over the last month:

RIOTS IN NOTTINGHAMSHIRE.

NOTTINGHAM, DEC. 30.—No less than eight violent outrages have been committed at Beeston, New Radford, [Watnall], Arnold, and Mansfield, and in some villages on the south side of the Trent. The objects of these attacks have been the destruction of frames; at each place the outrages have been put into execution by numbers of disguised men, armed with pistols and swords, using personal violence on the individuals of their revenge, threatening their lives if they open their lips; and after placing guards over these unfortunate people, destroyed their frames and then escaped undiscovered.

In the town of Mansfield, poor woman, on denying a frame demanded by this lawless banditti, was stabbed in several places, afterwards knocked down, and left for dead. Several of the depredators, who committed the outrage at [Watnall], have been taken, and committed to the jail in this town. A large meeting of the Magistrates of the county has taken place, and the strongest measures resorted to, to provide against these disorders. The Watch and Ward Bill is to be put into force immediately. The military have been again called on, the same as upon former occasions, to guard over the property of the inhabitants, and every other precaution, as patroles, &c. &c. &c.

21st December 1812: Stocking-frame broken in Beeston, close to where troops stationed

Although the number of incidents were low in comparison with the year before, Nottinghamshire Luddites were recovering their boldness. A raid mounted in the evening of Monday 21st December 1812 demonstrated that well.

Eight Luddites entered the home and workshop of Henry Cox, who was not at home, although a woman was present. One of the Luddites stood guard over her, whilst the remainder went upstairs to the workshop where they destroyed a 34 gauge stocking frame which belonged to a framesmith called Turner from Nottingham. For good measure, the Luddites also took away a rack and treble tackle (worth 7 shillings 6 pence), a brand new saw, 2 pairs of pliers, 1 pair of scissors, a spoke shave, a pair of point moulds (which belonged to a 30 gauge from the property of Mr Hovey), a wrench and four bobbins of silk.

The raid was particularly daring because troops were stationed 150 yards away, and the Luddites passed the New Inn on their way to Cox's house: despite the fact that 14 men were stood in around the door of the pub, none of them intervened or raised the alarm with the troops. Eventually, the alarm was raised with the authorities, but 30 minutes after the Luddites had left.

29th November 1811: Framebreaking at Beeston, Blidworth & New Radford

The Luddites now felt bold and confident enough to launch attacks in 3 different locations on Friday 29th November.

At Beeston, 18 frames were destroyed, at Blidworth, up to 12 were broken and at New Radford, a lace frame 'of great value' was smashed¹. The Leeds Mercury² had a particularly vivid description of the attack at Beeston:

"on Saturday night a concerted and organized attack was made on the village of Beeston, by about 200 of the rioters, some of whom were armed. The sentinels chosen by the rioters had a watch-word, and when they were all at their post and the watch-word past, they proceeded to breaking the frames of obnoxious Masters. In one house that they entered they found the family at supper, but to this they paid no regard; they seized the candle which was on the table, and immediately rushed up into the room where the frames were, and destroyed them all, and then departed without speaking a word."

The Leeds Mercury³ also reported that an unspecified frames were also broken at Basford on the same evening.