29th May 1816: Riots continue at Halstead, Essex

Following the liberation of 4 prisoners at Halstead, Essex and the riot that had ensued the day before, more rioting occurred in the evening of Wednesday 29th May 1816. Once again, the Kentish Weekly Post of 14th June 1816 took up the story:

The next evening they collected in greater numbers, many parties having been observed to join them from the neighbouring villages, armed with bludgeons, &c. In order to prevent a recurrence of the excesses of the preceding evening, the Halsted cavalry were under arms; who, after the Riot Act had been read, made several charges on the mob, but without effect, as the insurgents retreated into the church-yard, which rendered their efforts to disperse them fruitless; and having been violently assailed by stones, &c they found it necessary to retreat; upon which the scene of breaking windows ensued, to the great annoyance of the inhabitants, to the amount of 60 or 70 came forward, and offered themselves in aid of the civil power, by being sworn in as additional constables; and in the evening divided themselves into companies, in order to guard the avenues of the town, and prevent any suspicious persons from entering it; by which judicious measure no assemblage took place—all was quiet and tranquil, and from that time there has not been the slightest appearance of tumult or disorder. In justice to the inhabitants of Halsted, says the Chelmsford Paper, it ought to be observed, that very few of them, and these of the very lowest order, and consisting chiefly of women and children, were at all concerned in these disgraceful excesses, the mischief having principally arisen from some misguided person collected from the neighbourhood.

20th May 1816: Riot averted at Mundford, Norfolk

The Bury & Norwich Post of 29th May 1816 briefly reported that a riot had been averted at Mundford, Norfolk on Monday 20th May 1816:

Riots.—Monday se'nnight a mob collected at Mundford, but by the early attention and activity of J. Mosely, Esq. the Swaffham Cavalry, under Capts. Hamond and Tyssen, were mustered, and in a few hours appeared in force, when the Riot Act was read, and entire order was the consequence.

20th May 1816: Serious rioting in Downham Market

Early on Monday 20th May 1816, serious rioting broke out in Downham Market, lasting all of the day. Norfolk. Peacock (1965, pp.87-92) gave a good account of the insurrection using various sources:

On Monday, 20th May ... really serious rioting broke out in Downham Market and the day ended with that town in a state of chaos. It was general throughout the whole area for magistrates and overseers to hold weekly meetings, usually on a Monday, and on that day the representatives of the Hundred and Half of Clacklose were meeting in Downham. The labourers set out to confront them. 

At some time between seven and eight o’clock, a crowd of about sixty began to gather in the little village of Southery, a few miles from Feltwell. Among them, some who “displayed some military knowledge” began to press the fainter hearts in the village into joining them. James Galley, a labourer, was spokesman and he led them to Robert Martin's farm, where labourers were forced to unyoke their horses and join the crowd. A little later they called at the unpopular John Benton's farm and compelled another three men to leave their work. John Stern, a labourer, threatened to break open the barn, but Benton was armed, and the crowd went off towards Downham Market, led by John Bowers blowing a horn. They arrived at Denver at about ten o'clock and pressed more men into their ranks. Stern threatened they would hang anyone who persisted in refusing to join them, and the crowd was in an ugly mood. Sarah More, a labouring woman from Hilgay, was heard to say they wanted "Bread or Blood". Robert Martin, the Southerey farmer, had ridden ahead of the crowd and called on Mr. Dering, a local magistrate, warning him that several hundreds of angry labourers were approaching Downham Market. Dering first of all asked what their demands were, then, sent to Captain Lee, who was about nine miles, away, asking him to assemble the Upwell Yeomanry Cavalry. He then went into town, and tried to enrol the populace as special constables, but "To his great disappointment he found his neighbours little disposed to exert themselves at that period"." John Balding, an overseer of the poor, went out to meet the crowd. 

Balding met the crowd on the outskirts of the town and asked them what they were about. He was told that they intended to see the magistrates and heard some complaints from certain labourers that they were being forced to demonstrate against their will. When the labourers began breaking into Simpson's bread shop and distributing the loaves, he went back to report to the magistrates meeting at The Crown Inn. He stayed there until the crowd assembled outside, in the market place, at twelve o'clock. En route they had broken, into a shop belonging to John Parkinson, whose wife had locked the place and fled in panic. Scores of labourers from Downham had joined them and one report put their numbers as high as 1,500. Women were prominent amongst them, Frances Porter in particular. They broke down Parkinson's door and stole and distributed loaves of bread and 140 lbs. of flour. They also practically denuded the shop of sheeting, shoes, hats, umbrellas and so on. Only 6s. in cash was taken, but the whole of the loot was valued at over 8. Much of it was taken back later in the day, although some of it was sold. Another crowd, led by William Bell, Charles Nelson, Spencer Rayner and Hannah Jarvis, robbed George Thomas of four to five gallons of beer. As yet, however, things had not got completely out of hand and a courageous drover named Richard Gamble forced his way into Thomas's house, locked the cellar doors and turned the mob away. 

A constable on duty outside The Crown took a message to the magistrates and overseers saying that the Southerey people wanted to talk to them. By this time the magistrates had determined to make some concessions and a deputation of eight labourers was invited in. They stated terms exactly like those agreed to at Brandon and Bury and said they wanted work and 2s. a day. They were then asked to go into another room while their demands were considered. When they returned, they were told that "the circumstances of produce being so much lowered in value the Farmers and others could not afford to grant what they wished", but that they agreed to allow 2s. a day and to supply flour at 2s. 6d. per stone "for those that had large families". This led to a tremendous argument, during which the magistrates and overseers displayed considerable courage, refusing to move from their original offer to make their concessions applicable to everyone, as at Brandon. John Bowers, the labourer, was particularly violent towards Robert Scale, an overseer, who told him, "You seem to be very forward with that large stick in your hand, but I am not to be intimidated by that". Bowers replied, "Yes, here's my stick, it never did anybody any harm yet—whatever it might do". 

The magistrates followed the deputation outside into the square and addressed the crowd, asking them to go away. They were in no mood to disperse when they heard of the magistrates' stand, however, and began demanding the release of a gang of poachers who had recently been imprisoned in the town. Stones were thrown and the J.P.s were forced back into The Crown, followed by the crowd. Hare and Pratt escaped, but Dering was chased and eventually found refuge by hiding in the garden of Mr. Wales, the apothecary—whose house (according to one report) was broken up by labourers who were seeking the unfortunate magistrate. Another part of the crowd stayed inside The Crown, which they tore apart. They took flour and other eatables and made Samuel Johnson, the publican, supply them with fifteen gallons, of beer, all of which they consumed during the afternoon. Among those active here was Sindall, the rioter eventually shot at Littleport, and the only person known to have been involved at more than one place in the May riots. 

The afternoon of Monday, 20th May, was given over to plunder and rioting in Downham—albeit here, as elsewhere, little violence was done to individuals (although Dering would have been in trouble had he been found). By this time Daniel Harwood, thirty-two, a native of Gooderstone, who was self-employed doing contract work with his waggon and team for farmers "as is the custom in that part of the country where he resided, near Downham", and Thomas Thody, twenty-two, born, at St. Neots, a married man with two children and then living at Nacton, had become prominent as leaders of the crowd. Thody was one of those who had imbibed at the landlord's expense at The Crown. 

One of the first objects of attack during the afternoon was William Baldwin's flour mill. Thody and Harwood led a crowd to the mill where they relieved William Spinks, a millhand, of the key. Charles Nelson opened the door and the crowd rushed in and helped themselves, distributing, according to Baldwin, flour and seventy bushels of meal to the value of £35 10s. 0d. Elizabeth King and Nelson then robbed Mary Wyer of twenty loaves of bread and John Stern procured 12 lbs. of cheese which he took to The Crown and distributed among his friends. Hannah Jarvis led an attack on Stimson's shop where she cut up some loin of beef and distributed it amongst the rioters. From there she and Amelia Lightharness took a crowd to the shop of Francis Wiseman, a pork butcher. Amelia was heard to say "Here my boys, this is the place for good pork" and the crowd denuded the place, taking 250 lbs. of meat, valued at £9. Zachariah Stebbing, a gardener, said that he noticed William Bell, the yeoman, particularly active. "I noticed Bell," he said, "and thought that a man like him who kept a team of horses of his own should rob his neighbour." From Wiseman's, the crowd went to Samuel Bolton's shop. Bolton had already been forced earlier to give up all his cooked meats and was surprised when the mob called on him again late in the afternoon. He slammed the door and ran to get his guns, but William Fendyke, Harwood and Thody smashed the door in and the crowd helped themselves. Bolton said that Lightharness, Lucy Rumbelow and Anne Fuller were very prominent. Another section of the crowd went off to try to liberate the poachers. 

At about five o'clock Captain Lee arrived with some men of the Clacklose Yeomanry Cavalry. Dering, still hiding in the chemist's garden, heard the troops and climbed over a wall to join, them. He led them on horseback to the market place and there read the Riot Act. As he finished, the part of the crowd which had tried to release the poachers returned and the market place was once again turned into a battleground. Stones, were thrown at the hated yeomanry, who retaliated by hitting out with the flats of their swords. Eventually the crowd dispersed although, according to John Lister, one of the cavalrymen, there were still troubles as late as seven o'clock. The troops and the special constables (seventy had enrolled after the cavalry arrived!) searched the public houses and imprisoned six or seven labourers. Lord Suffield told Sidmouth that, but for the arrival of Captain Lee, Dering's house would have been in flames.

18th May 1816: The Mayor of Norwich updates the Home Office on the situation in the city

Guildhall Norwich
18th May 1816.

My Lord

I am again obliged to write your Lordship and so acquaint you that the Outrages were so much renewed last Night in the City, that the Magistrates were obliged to read the Riot Act, and to avail themselves of the Assistance of the Military mentioned in my letter of yesterday and also of the Norwich Light Horse Volunteers, with whose Help the Civil Power cleared the markets and the Streets about 10 o'Clock and the Night passed peaceably, but I regret that I have to inform Your Lordship, that from various Circumstance I have determined with the Advice of the other Magistrates (in addition to being prepared with the Civil Power and Inhabitants) to desire that the Military may be kept in readiness this Evening, in Case I shall find it necessary to order them out.

I have [etc]

J. H. Yallop.
Mayor

[To] The right hon.ble Lord Sidmouth

17th May 1816: "Bread or Blood in Brandon this day"

Peacock (1965, pp.79-80) continues his description of the events in Brandon on Friday 17th May 1816:

The following day, John Kendle, a deputy overseer, met, on the bridge over the river, a crowd of about fifty labourers led Porter Talbot, a labourer armed with a gun "which had a handkerchief tied round the lock". Kendle asked what they wanted and they replied that Mr. Norman, the miller at Weeting, a half mile away, “had not kept his word and they were going his mill down". Kendle argued with them and promised to see Norman on their behalf, if they would hold their hand. They agreed and the overseer rode off. When he returned with the news that Norman had not put his prices up, however, the labourers had already moved into the town.   

A crowd had started assembling in the market place at about nine o'clock that morning. About an hour later some women came along who announced that their men were following them but had stopped along the Thetford road to collect sticks. Eventually fifty or more, all armed, and led by William Peverett, a labourer, marched into the square carrying white and red flags. Willett, the butcher, who was amongst the crowd, told Peverett that the parish would let them have flour at 2s. 6d. if they would disperse, and asked for a deputation to go along with him to meet the magistrates. Helen Dyer, a married woman, had earlier told Willett that, although she could not read, she had a paper containing the crowd's demands, which she wanted shown to the magistrates. On it was written "Bread or Blood in Brandon this day". 

Lieutenant Goodenough at The Chequers had sent for Burch, the magistrate, as soon as the crowd began to assemble. He asked some of the special constables to go out and arrest Talbot, but they replied that they were too, scared of the mob. When Burch arrived, the Lieutenant asked for permission to go take some of the labourers into custody himself, but this the frightened magistrate refused to allow. Instead, he agreed to see the deputation brought to him by Willett, which included Peverett, Talbot, Henry Malt, John Crane—all labourers and William Arnold, a shoemaker. 

Burch asked John Crane why the crowd had assembled again and what their demands were. Crane replied that "they did not mean any injury but that he could not live with his large family as things were, and they must have flour cheaper". They also asked for the military to leave, saying that they did not like the “Redcoats". The magistrate, by this time scared out of his wits, appeared ready to make concessions, although Goodenough warned him that he was acting improperly. He promised that the military would leave, and saved some face when the Town Clerk of Thetford opportunely arrived with a message from the Mayor of that place demanding the return of the troops because “a mob was assembling there”. Goodenough left and Burch, saying that the crowd's demands would be met, arranged a meeting of "the principal inhabitant” for six o'clock at The Chequers. All this time stones were being thrown outside in the square. 

The crowd began to reassemble outside The Chequers around five o'clock and once again women were very prominent and vociferous. The meeting decided that the poor were to have 2s. a day allowance and flour at 2s. 6d. a stone as Willett had suggested. Burch announced this decision to the labourers and agreed to their demand that it be put in writing. Smythe, Burch's clerk, took the agreements along to the Town Cryer. This was the first time demands of this kind had been formulated and the first time that the magistrates had given in. It was to form the pattern for future incidents. 

The crowd announced that they were satisfied with the concessions, and it does not seem to have occurred to any of them that, having got them by violence, they might not be kept. They told Burch, however, "We must have beer or worse will come of it", and in spite of cries from the women saying, "do not give them any", this was agreed to also—provided they had it in the Ram Close, a field belonging to The Ram Public House. They drank and danced and eventually went back to the square and demonstrated their belief in victory by pathetically singing God Save the King and Rule Britannia outside The Chequers. A section of them committed some acts of violence, nevertheless, and the Riot Act was read for the second time. Henry Spendlove was once again prominent, "forming the men into a rank opposite the windows of the Chequers Inn...". Burrell's windows were broken, John Ablett was stoned, and between twenty and thirty people assembled outside Willett's shop and broke his windows. This was the limit of the damage on Friday, however, and the crowd "did not commit any more riot or disturbance".

17th May 1816: Rioting continues in Norwich

The second day of rioting in Norwich continued on Friday 17th May, and the Bury & Norwich Post of 22nd May 1816 carried the following description:

A Court of Mayoralty was held on Friday morning, when strong measures to preserve the peace were determined on; at Sun-set a Captain's Guard of the West Norfolk Militia were marched into the Hall; the Norwich Yeomanry Cavalry, under Capt. Hudson, assembled at the Swan Inn; a detachment of the 1st Royal Dragoons were under arms at the Horse Barracks; and the Magistrates, Constables, and a number of the respectable inhabitants, at the same time were assembled at the Hall. These demonstrations had, to a considerable degree, the desired effect; nevertheless a large mob collected, who shewed a bad disposition, by breaking a number of lamps, windows, &c. The Magistrates and their assistants therefore proceeded in a body to the Market-place, and the Riot Act was read; several of the mob having surrounded them, and behaving in a disorderly manner, three were taken into custody, and the rest refusing to disperse, after proper time had been allowed them to do so, the military were called in, but were on their appearance received with vollies of stones, and their horses alarmed by throwing a large fire-ball; they soon, however, succeeded in driving their assailants out of the Market, and dispersing them in every direction; several who resisted were committed to the gaol, and before eleven o'clock every thing was quiet.—We are sorry to add, that several of the Yeomanry Cavalry received cuts and bruises from the stones, and one gentleman was thrown from his horse by coming into contact with a post, and the animal falling upon him, he was severely injured, but is now in a convalescent state.

17th May 1816: Norwich magistrates post handbills warning against rioting

NORWICH.

AT a COURT of MAYORALTY, held the Seventeenth Day of May, 1816.

THE misguided People, who were guilty of the Riot and Tumults last night, are hereby apprised by the Magistrates of the City, that in case of any Repetition of the same, the Magistrates will feel themselves bound, in the discharge of their Duty, immediately to order the RIOT ACT to be read, after which, if such Persons should continue in the Execution of their riotous Proceedings, they will forthwith become guilty of the Capital Felony, and liable to the penalty of DEATH.

The Magistrates further do hereby require, that on any Appearance of an Intention to repeat the same Riotous Proceedings, by the above-mentioned misguided People, that the respectable Inhabitants of the City do immediately meet at the Hall, in the Market to take such prompt measures to preserve the Peace and Security of the City as the Magistrates may deem necessary.

By the COURT,

DE HAGUE.

16th May 1816: Labourers demanding higher wages assemble in Brandon, Suffolk

On Thursday 16th May 1816 began three days of disturbances in the Suffolk village of Brandon. Labourers demanding higher wages used mass assemblies and property destruction to win higher wages and cheaper prices, a model that was to be repeated elsewhere in the coming days.

Newspaper reports of the disturbances are inaccurate, and because he had access to government documents that we do not, the words of A.J. Peacock, from his 1965 book 'Bread or Blood', will be used to describe what occurred at Brandon:

A crowd of about 200 people, mainly women and boys assembled in a riotous mood in the market place at Brandon at about four o'clock in the afternoon of Thursday, 16th May.  Mr. Burch and J. Moseley, two magistrates who were at the latter's home at Toft's Hall, some five miles away over the border in Norfolk, were sent for by frightened constables unable to quieten the crowd. They arrived during the early evening and immediately proceeded to the Chequers Inn. They sent out for a number of people—some twenty-five in all—like Matthew Burrell, the proprietor of the White Hart Inn, whom they swore in as special constables. Burch then went out to address the crowd. He asked them what they wanted and they replied, "Cheap Bread, a Cheap Loaf and Provisions Cheaper". By this time they were in an ugly mood, amusing themselves by breaking the windows of a house belonging to a Mrs. Brewster, and were being urged by Henry Spendlove, a labourer who was armed with a stick, to even greater deeds of violence. Burrell and Thomas Willett, a butcher who was an object of great hatred to the crowd, went out to make some arrests but thought better of it and returned to The Chequers amidst a hail of stones. Burch then told the crowd that, unless they dispersed, he would have to read the Riot Act, and sent the clerk for "the volume of Buries Justice which contains the proclamation directed by the Riot Act". This had the desired effect and the crowd, which had dwindled to between thirty and forty, dispersed quietly after hearing Burch read his piece at about a quarter to eleven. 

The magistrates by this time had lost their nerve and Moseley sent to the Commanding officer of some Dragoons stationed at Thetford, five or six miles away, "where a riot had lately been". Lieutenant Stephen Goodenough and eleven men of the First Royal Dragoons arrived in Brandon between two and three o'clock on the morning of 17th May to find the town perfectly quiet. Burch and Moseley, who was later quite unjustly accused of running away went home during the night.

6th May 1816: Food riot in Bridport, Dorset

The Royal Cornwall Gazette of 18th May 1816 carried reports of rioting that took place in Bridport on Monday 6th May 1816:

Monday morning, in consequence of the advance in the price of bread, several groups of the manufacturing poor assembled at different parts of Bridport, complaining of the grievance, added to their want of employ from the present stagnation of trade. Their numbers increasing, one of the most active bore a quartern loaf through the streets on a pole: This drew together a great number of men, women, and children, who soon proceeded to acts of violence, demolishing the windows of the principal millers and bakers, and taking from the brewery of Messrs. Gundry three hogsheads of beer, which they drew in triumph to the centre of the town. The Riot Act was then read, but several hundred more having joined the mob, it was evident that nothing but the most prompt measures could prevent the dangerous consequences, likely to follow, and which were happily prevented by the exertions of some of the principal inhabitants, who rushed among the mob, destroyed the beer, seized the ringleaders, and in a very short time dispersed upwards of 2000, committing the rioters to prison.

7th September 1812: 'Madam Ludd' joins 'Lady Ludd' in food riots in Nottingham

On Monday 7th September, the food riots that had affected Sheffield and Leeds in Yorkshire spread to Nottinghamshire, and the town of Nottingham itself. The Nottingham Journal of 12th September gave the background to the disturbances:

It having been ascertained that a considerable reduction took place in the price of wheat in our market on Saturday last, (but which, it appears, did not exceed from 10 to 15 shillings per quarter on corn that was in a fit state to grind), the people naturally conceived that as the bakers and dealers in flour had profited by the rise in every instance, on their stock in hand they ought, on a principle of fair dealing, to concede the advantage of a fall in the prices of corn in the market to the public. They were therefore, persuaded, that flour would be sold on the Monday following at a proportionable reduced rate; but the dealers had bought in their stock at the highest possible price, they could not, without sustaining very material loss, lower it to the price so confidently expected, and so anxiously desired, and in consequence, a strong ferment was created in the public mind, which led to the commission of much mischief.

The Morning Chronicle of 11th September took up the story of what happened next:

On Monday morning, a baker in Nottingham had the temerity to advance his flour two-pence a stone, in the face of a falling market, which so enraged the women, that several got a fishing-rod, and fixed a halfpenny loaf upon it, which they coloured over with reddle, in imitation of its being dipt in blood, and likewise adorned it with a piece of crape. With this they then began to parade the streets, and soon collected a very large mob, among which were two women with hand-bills, who were dignified with the titles of Madam and Lady Ludd. The first object of their vengeance was the Baker who had advanced the price of his flour; they broke his windows, and compelled him to drop his flour sixpence a stone. The mob then divided into several parties, and treated nearly every baker and flour-seller in the same manner; not sparing their windows till they had promised to drop flour sixpence per stone.

The Journal reported an occurrence that must have been worrying for the authorities:

What added to the tumult was, the bread served out to the soldiers was found to be short of weight; and many of them were, on Monday, seen active in the mob. 

Other parts of the military were called out, and the Riot Act was read, and the crowd eventually dispersed.

14th May 1812: The Town Clerk of Nottingham informs the Home Office of crowds celebrating the death of Spencer Perceval

Sir,

I am sure that you will give me Credit for most sincerely deploring the Death of Mr Percival as an Event which may forever tarnish the Character of the English People. We are yet to learn the Source from where this diabolical attack upon the Prime Minister of England originated & I will devoutly hope that it will be probed to the gutters; that if it arose from an organized Conspiracy against the Government the secret Agents may be brought to light & visited with exemplary punishment, & that if it should have sprung out of the disordered mind or devilish spirit of revenge of any isolated Individual the facts may be fairly & fully discovered & understood both by the English Nation & the rest of Europe.

I am sorry to be compelled to Detail to you the effects produced by this Intelligence at Nottingham which was received with the greatest Joy by the Populace here & before the Magistrates were aware of their Intention attempted to be celebrated by many noisy testimonies of their exultation such as shouting making Bonfires & in one Instance carrying a Flag & a Drum. It was indeed pretended that this was merely the assembling of some Journeymen Woolcombers to celebrate their Masters Birthday but however this might have been the original Cause of their meeting it was too apparent that they seized the opportunity of exciting others to join them in expressing their Joy at the horrid Event which had occurred. as they Declared they were no Percivals—No Symptoms of tumult or Disorder were observable until about 7 or 12 past 7 oClock when the [Nots] in the Market Place & the expressions of the People excited such alarm that the Magistrates assembled at the Police Office & sent for General Hawker who immediately called out the Somerset Militia & Directed a Body of Cavalry to parade in the Market Place. The Magistrates went with myself amongst the People & requested & insisted upon their dispersing & upon their wavering & not taking their Departure so readily as we could wish I proceeded in the presence of the Mayor & Magistrates to read the Riot Act where the People were the thickest assembled. After a moderate time they dispersed from the Market Place but they afterwards made Bonfires in several parts of the Town which the Magistrates Directed & enforced to be extinguished & it was not until 12 oClock that the Magistrates retired from the Superintendance of the Peace & Security of the Town. One or two men were taken into Custody but in fact altho to a liberal & well constituted mind nothing could be more truly offensive & disgusting than the disgraceful Conduct of the People no open Riot or Tumult occurred after the Interference of the Magistracy & the assembling of the Military.

You will excuse the Haste in which I have written this to save the post anxious that you should know what has occurred painful as is the relation of it.

I am [etc]
Geo Coldham Town Clerk

Nottm
14th May 1812

P.S.

The Magistrates intend to take immediate Steps for resuming the System of nightly military Patroles & have already conferred with General Hawker on the subject. I regularly have written without the Direction of the Magistrates because there were no time to [illegible] them previous to the Departure of the Post

20th April 1812: Colonel Clay informs the Home Office of the state of Manchester & the surrounding towns

Manchester
20. April 1812
½ past 11 o’clock. P.M.

Sir

In consequence of information I received from the Police Office at a late hour last night, I occupied the points previously agreed on for the protection of the Provision warehouses before seven o'clock this morning, which had the desired effect. The Town has, however, been in a most disturbed state all day; so much so, that it became necessary to read the riot act this afternoon; & towards Evening, to call out the whole Garrison for the purpose of dispersing the mob & clearing all the Streets; which has been attended with some difficulty, but affected without material injury to any one.

In the midst of the tumult here, expresses arrived from Ashton, Middleton, & Eccles — with requisitions for Troops—. At the former place the mob plundered several shops in the town & demolished the windows of the Inn — at the latter, the people had assembled & evinced a disposition to Riot; but at Middleton, the mob made a most daring attack on the works of Mr. Burton, who has nobly defended them, & shot five of those wretches on the spot. I sent immediate assistance to him, & have since heard that all is quiet there: but to Ashton & Eccles I could not spare a man; as I am fully aware that the disturbances in the neighbourhood are principally intended to draw off the force from hence.—

I have also been informed that the People at Worsley have been very riotous today; but I have nothing official from thence.

A great number of people have also been levying Contributions on different Gentleman's families at their Country Residences in the Vicinity of Manchester this morning.

I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most Obedient
Humble Servant

JG Clay – Colonel
Commanding at Manchtr

The Right Honble
The Secretary of State
Home Department
&c &c &c

20th April 1812: Serious rioting across the North West of England

On Monday 20th April 1812, serious rioting broke in many towns across the North-West of England. Much of it bore the character of food rioting that was by then into its second day in Manchester.

In Oldham, the Adjutant of the Local Militia, William Chippindale, had observed large groups of people assembling in the countryside the previous day, and had heard rumours that they would be collecting in town the following day. He had only a handful of men to guard the Militia's armoury, which was a regular dwelling house, and he set about fortifying it which was complete by 12 noon. When disturbances began in earnest later, Chippindale apportioned blame to people coming into Oldham from Saddleworth ('rude uncultivated savages') and Hollinwood, the latter group being mainly Colliers. Warehouses and shops were plundered, and the crowds engaged in autoreduction. Sections of the crowd began to assess the possibility of attacking the armoury but decided against it. Chippindale then saw the crowds head en masse to nearby Middleton.

At Rochdale, large crowds came into the town from the direction of nearby Oldham & Royton, and the clamour amongst them was to carry out the autoreduction of prices that was a common theme elsewhere. There were at least two arrests and it seems a stand-off situation existed in the town for many hours before windows began to broken at around 8 p.m. The Cumberland Militia was eventually called out and the Riot Act was read by a Magistrate, William Horton. The crowds were eventually dispersed by the military and the streets locked down by 11.00 p.m.

At Bolton, crowds had also gathered to enforce autoreduction early, and Colonel Ralph Fletcher was at the forefront in calling out the military for 8.00 a.m. A 60-strong detachment of the Scots Greys was called out, along with 80 of the local Yeomanry Cavalry under Major Pilkington and 50 of the Bolton Local Militia under Fletcher himself. These were all in use to guard the market place. The guard continued until around 7.00 p.m., when even greater numbers had collected in the streets. Fletcher then decided to read the Riot Act, the streets were cleared and Public Houses shut.

The story was similar in Ashton-under-Lyne, with provision shops and warehouses being into and the produce seized. An arrest was made, with the prisoner being held at the Globe Inn in town, with crowds demanding his release. When this was refused, the pub had most of its windows put through. A Manchester Magistrate, The Reverend William R Hay was in town on other business at the time and wrote to the Home Office to explain the authorities were unable to intervene due to the lack of military. He even swore in 60 members of the Local Militia as Special Constables.

The crowd then moved through Dukinfield and on to Stalybridge, where the Granary, Corn-Mill and Warehouses of the Huddersfield Canal Company were attacked by a large crowd of people. As well as goods being carried away, at least 1000 bushels of flour and meal were destroyed, their rage being so great.

Between 1.00 and 2.00 p.m. a flour Mill at Worsley was attacked by a large mob. The machinery was damaged and much of the flour carried away. In nearby Eccles, all the shops were shut up, and the Liverpool coach heading through the town had stones thrown at it.

Much later in the afternoon, the same crowd that had assailed the Mill at Worsley arrived at Barton-upon-Irwell. A provision shop was attacked, with autoreduction being in evidence. A hundred people entered the local Mill of Messrs Gilbert, Marsdens & Co, attacking the machinery with staves and clubs: outside the crowd called out "Now or never", a by now popular slogan seen in evidence 12 days before in central Manchester and parts of Yorkshire but a few days ago. Most of the flour, either loose or in sacks, was carried away.

At many of these locations, arrests took place, with prisoners later being committed to either Chester or Lancaster Castles, depending upon which County the riots took place in.

20th April 1812: Second day of serious rioting in Manchester

On Monday 20th April 1812, they was serious rioting in Manchester, only 2 days after a food riot in the Shudehill and New Cross area.

The Times reported that the areas around New Cross, Ancoats and Knott Mill were the site for much of the rioting, with the crowd carrying away meal, flour and potatoes.

The proceedings had actually begun as early as 9.00 a.m., where a woman was seen to be stopping potato carts and encouraging a crowd to take all the produce. The same woman then unscrewed the side so that the load tipped out over the road, and helped herself to as many as she could carry in her apron before running away. Many others then followed her example. Subsequently, many of the shops in the area were shut, particularly around Oldham Street.

The rioting continued throughout the day and into the late afternoon. As well as plain expropriation, auto-reduction was much in evidence. A crowd of 200 people persuaded a Mr Lomas to sell his stock of provisions at a loss. By 2.00 p.m., the same woman who had been foremost amongst the rioters earlier in the day was stopping butter carts and horses bringing milk into town, and demanding they auto-reduce their prices: they were offered 1 shilling per pound for butter and 2d per quart for milk and told that if they did not like these prices, the produce would simply be taken. Threatened with a constable, the women retorted she would have him hanged if he dared to intervene. At Miles Platting, a meal cart on it's way to Oldham was overturned, and the contents carried away.

At 5.30 p.m. on Deansgate a shopkeeper called John Holland saw a large crowd proceeding up the street. He ran into his shop and shut the door, locking and bolting it for good measure. He and his family stood with their backs against the door, whilst the crowd gathered outside and demanded that he open up. As the anger increased at Holland's refusal to obey them, a man from the crowd began to kick the door with greater and greater force. another man came up with a piece of wood and before long the door yielded to their collected blows, with the windows being smashed in concert. The crowd now descended on the shop, and threw all of the provisions outside, taking away and distributing 2 tubs of potatoes from the front. Holland then attempted to close the shutters on the outside of the shop, but was severely beaten by the crowd. The military and constables eventually arrived to disperse the crowd, but only after the shop had been emptied of it's contents. Holland later estimated the loss of stock to be between £7-8.

The Riot Act was eventually read, and military dispersed the crowds, eventually arresting 5 women and 3 men.

13th April 1812: Rioting in Macclesfield

 The following passage from the Chester Courant of 21st April 1812 describes the rioting that took place in Macclesfield on Monday 13th April 1812:

Yesterday week, Mr Daniel Rowson, a factor of great business in Macclesfield, received a letter from Stockport, threatening the immediate destruction of his and his neighbours’ property. Already the rioters had begun to assemble in the fields adjoining the town, and by noon, finding they have sufficient force to carry their determination into effect, they entered the Market-place. They proceeded to enquire how potatoes sold, and not approving the price, began to throw them about the streets; five bags were thus disposed of, when the foremost of them, leaving a blue ribbon in his hat, was taken into custody and lodged in the common gaol by order of the Magistrates. The word “rescue!” was given, the doors of the gaol broken, the man set at liberty, and carried in triumph to the Market-place in an instant of time, the mob bellowing and shouting. After a short deliberation, two, apparently the ringleaders, held up a stick—the signal was answered by a universal huzza, and the whole body set forward to the premises of Mr. Rowson, in Mill-street. Here they demolished all the windows, broke the door of the shop, and rolled the cheeses and other articles through the streets. When the destruction was complete, and another shout of triumph had succeeded, they took the road through Pickford and Sunderland streets to the shops of Messrs. John Holland, Simon Malkin, Rupert Malkin, Samuel Clowes, Matthias Mason, and several others, some of which they completely gutted, destroyed the windows and furniture, and were guilty of greater excesses as they proceeded. A company of the Royal Cumberland Militia were mustered by beat of drum immediately when the riot began. They followed the men from street to street without success, some time, but coming up with them in Mill-street, the riot act was there read by W. Ayton, Esq. one of the Borough Magistrates. The act was repeated in the Market-place, without any other effect than further to exasperate the populace. The magistrates, who had hoped to appease the tumult by show of arms, now saw the necessity of employing force; but, still reluctant to shed blood by the use of the musquet, they summoned the Macclesfield Troop of Volunteer Cavalry. The cavalry mustered at 4 p.m. under the command of their captain, J.S. Daintry, Esq. and marched to the Waters, and from thence on a hand gallop to the factory of Messrs. Goodal and Birchenhall, wither the mob had proceeded.

The rioters fled as the cavalry advance, but were not dispersed until they had broken the windows, doors, &c. of Mr. Wood, threatening his life.—The fields having been cleared, the mob again entered the town, and threatened a rescue of those who had been taken prisoners, but by the prompt measures of the military and the magistrates, order was finally restored. On the following morning three of the rioters, who had been secured, were examined, and were, under a strong escort, brought our county gaol on Wednesday last, to take their trials at the next Spring Assizes. Their names are Wm. Stubbs, John Livesey, and John Jackson. The total number of rioters at one period, amounted to at least 5000, few of whom, it appears, were residents of the town of Macclesfield. Of the Macclesfield cavalry, two were severely hurt; Mr. Higginbotham, an alderman of the borough, had his arm broken; Mr Grimsditch, solicitor, received a severe contusion on the head: many others were struck violently, but none dangerously wounded. Of the rioters, one person, a woman, was unfortunately trampled upon, and had her arm broken; and the prisoner Stubbs also received a deep gash in the head, when in the act of violently assaulting Mr. Grimsditch.

8th April 1812: Cancelled Loyalist meeting at Manchester Exchange Buildings turns into a riot

Manchester Exchange Buildings by John Harwood, from 'Lancashire Illustrated', 1832.

Following the requisition presented to the Manchester Borough Reeve by the Manchester 'Church & King club' of 25th March, the Reeve agreed to allow the organisers to convene at meeting at the Exchange Building dining room in Manchester for Wednesday 8th April.

The aim of the meeting was to draw up a congratulatory address to the Prince Regent for allowing the hated Tory administration to continue in office. In the midst of widespread disturbances, near starvation and hardship, it would be difficult to conceive of a more provocative time to hold such a meeting, but the authorities gave their consent.

Handbills opposing the meeting had already been distributed, calling for anyone who opposed such an address to attend and make their feelings felt. By the late afternoon of the day prior to the meeting, the Borough Reeve and local constables had changed their mind. A suitable excuse was found - that an architects inspection at the building considered the staircase not up to holding such numbers as might be expected, and that it was too dangerous to continue. But, although handbills to this effect were posted, it was too late. By 9.30 a.m., the front of the Exchange building, and the adjoining streets were thronged with people, mainly weavers, and a considerable number from outside the town of Manchester itself.

Meanwhile the 'official opposition' to the loyalist meeting was oblivious to what was happening at the Exchange, and were holed up at the Star Hotel in Deansgate debating what to do.

Finding the building closed, an impromptu meeting took place outside in St Ann's Square. Speeches were made, and the resolutions of the City of London Common Hall of 26th March were read aloud, and agreed to by all present. Amongst other things, these resolutions called for the dismissal of the Tory administration by the Prince Regent, the exact opposite of the demands of what the 'Church and King Club' had called for.

Whilst this was going on, a section of the crowd broke away, and managed to gain entry to the Exchange building. Once inside, a number of boys and young men occupied the newsroom: in the grand surroundings they called for each other to read aloud from the newspapers. They played games, stealing each others hats and flinging them across the large room.

Outside, Hugh Hornby Birley was passing by, and tried to remonstrate with the crowd outside the Exchange - the crowd recognised him, and taunted and roughly jostled him. Realising it was dangerous to linger any longer, he hurriedly ran away, seeking refuge in a nearby shop.

In the Exchange newsroom, fun and games had turned into something else. An object being accidentally thrown too hard broke one of the windows. An accident turned now to intent - windows were deliberately broken and soon chairs, tables, windows, and the pictures on the walls were all being smashed and broken, along with chandeliers and maps that adorned the Exchange. Some of the paperwork that could be found was set alight. A portrait by Thomas Lawrence of the Lancashire MP, Colonel Thomas Stanley, had a hole pushed through it. The damage done was later estimated at between £800-1000.

By now, the military had turned out and was attempting to move the crowds away from the Exchange building. The Riot Act was read, but the provisions of the Act meant that an hour had to elapse before any action could be taken. Cries were now being heard from the crowd "now is our time for a cheap loaf!"

It actually took several hours for the military to fully impose order on the centre of Manchester. During that time, there had been strong apprehensions that general disorder would entail, with rumours of a plan to destroy the Portico Library and an actual attack upon a factory/warehouse belonging to a Mr Schofield on Newton Street in which some windows were broken before the military arrived to disperse the crowd. Although there were no reports of deaths, several were apparently wounded by sabres wielded by the Scots Greys and Cumberland Militia.

The Loyalists who had called the original aborted meeting at the now wrecked Exchange later sought sanctuary at the police office, where the address to the Prince Regent was voted on. The address itself was then deposited at various locations around Town to be signed.

But something in Manchester had changed that day. The journalist, Archibald Prentice, who later gave accounts of what he had learned had happened said that "the tables had been turned upon those who had formerly instigated Church-and-King mobs into destructive action." (1851, p.40), and quoted a Thomas Kershaw, who said to him "But we had no Church-and-King mobs after that!" (ibid, p.52).

14th November 1811: The funeral of the Luddite John Westley

In the afternoon of Thursday the 14th November, an almost palpable air of tension existed in the village of Arnold. Up to 1000 people had gathered for the funeral of John Westley, the Luddite shot dead in the early hours of the previous Monday morning.

The funeral cortege was preceded by former colleagues of Westley "bearing black wands, decked with knots of crape"¹ and a band played solemn music. The authorities had turned out for the occasion: the High Sheriff, the Under Sheriff and six of the County Magistrates no less. They were joined by Special Constables as well as 30 Mounted Dragoons. At one stage, the Riot Act was read, and the crowd was given an hour to disperse. To make matters worse, the hour elapsed when Westley's body was being lowered into the grave and the crowd was then ordered to disperse immediately by the High Sheriff, Thomas Wright, the same man who had acted as Coroner at the Inquest into Westley's death. Two who refused were taken into custody (but later released) and at this point the tension dissipated and the crowd dispersed quietly.