28th January 1812: Prisoners brought into Nottingham from the villages

The Nottingham Review of 31st January gave a vivid report of prisoners being brought into Nottingham on Tuesday 28th January 1811:

"On Tuesday several prisoners were brought in from the country, by military escorts, among whom was John Waplington, a well-known wandering maniac, a native of this town, and, at present time, a pauper belonging to the parish of St Mary. He had left his sister's house in Turncalf-alley the day before, on one of his wandering excursions, and, we understand, was apprehended as a suspicious character in the neighbourhood of Blidworth. But what excited the attention the public more than usual, was, to see this unfortunate offspring of our father Adam, confined in a cart by the side of a lusty Bow-street officer, who drove along the streets with dashing fury, attended by about half a score Hussars."

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.