11th December 1811: Three more men committed to Trial in Nottingham

On Wednesday 11th December, three more men were committed for trial at the next Assizes.

William Parkes & George Shaw were committed to the County gaol, charged with entering a house with force and breaking five stocking frames on 25th November 1811 in the St Mary's Parish of the town of Nottingham.

Meanwhile, John Ingham was charged with writing and sending a threatening letter signed 'Ned Lud & Co' letters to his employer, William Nunn & Co., on 15th November 1811.

They were to stand trial at the next Assizes, in March 1812.

11th December 1811: Troop movements

A troop of Scotch Greys arrive in Derby to relieve the Derby & Chaddesden Yeomanry. They had travelled from Nottingham.

11th December 1811: Derby Magistrates impose a curfew

Derby Magistrates imposed a curfew on the Borough 6 days after the Nottinghamshire Magistrates had taken the same measures. The Derby Mercury carried some of the text of their proclamation:

“The Innkeepers and Publicans of the Borough of Derby, are required and strictly enjoined not to suffer any person or persons, to remain tippling or assembled together in their respective houses, after the hour of Ten o’clock at night. And they are further required to give notice to the Magistrates of all improper or suspicious persons who shall enter their several houses.”

10th December 1811: Loughborough curfew notice

10th December 1811: Loughborough warning to frame-breakers

9th December 1811: Troop movements

The Southwell local militia was taken off duty in Nottinghamshire, having been relieved by the arrival of the Berkshire Militia the previous day.

In Derbyshire, the Derby and Chaddesden troops of Yeomanry cavalry were ordered to assemble, and mustered the same evening. They would be joined by the Radbourne Troop of Local Militia the following day.

The Director of the People's History Museum responds

Today, Luddite Bicentenary, Luddites 200 Organising Forum & Huddersfield Anarchist League received a response to our letter and action at the People's History Museum last Saturday from the Director, Katy Archer. It's reproduced below. We will have a response in due course.

Thank you for your recent letter regarding the inclusion of the Luddites in the People’s History Museum. I am sorry that you felt it necessary to send and publish a letter of complaint without first speaking with me or other members of the museum team to clarify our position on the subject.

We are in no way saying that we consider the Luddites to be unimportant or that they were not part of working class history. The People’s History Museum is the national museum of democracy and our role is to engage, inspire and inform all audiences by showing that ‘there have always been ideas worth fighting for’. In order to tell the national story of the development of democracy in Britain over the past two hundred years with the space we have available, we are unable to include all elements of this story in detail and there are a large number of events, individuals and groups which we have not been able to include in our exhibitions.

When recently redeveloping the museum (which reopened in early 2010), we intentionally took a collections based approach to our exhibitions, aiming to showcase as much as possible of our unique and designated collections. With only two items in our collection (one of which is actually on permanent display in the galleries) with any connection to the Luddites it would have been impossible to explain such a complex theme without more objects. As many Luddites were members of trade societies (such as croppers) we were able to cover those in more detail because we have fuller collections related to such societies.

As we are unable to tell a full and comprehensive story due to the constraints of space, resources and collections, as all museums are, we also refer people to other museums such as the Tolson Museum in Huddersfield or the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, where they can find out more about the subject.

I can assure you that the exclusion of the Luddites, or any other group, has not been done intentionally by the museum. Both EP Thompson and Eric Hobsbawm have been supporters of the museum in many ways over the years and we do not reject either of their approaches at all.

You are of course correct that the Luddites do not make a specific appearance on our timeline in the museum’s reception area. Again, it would have been impossible for us to create a timeline of the development of democracy over the past two hundred years without having to make some difficult decisions about what to include. We decided to include the ‘Industrial Revolution’ on the timeline rather than cover the whole period in detail as other industrial museums cover the subject more comprehensively than we do.

As part of our process of reviewing and updating the museum’s exhibitions and content, we will of course bear your comments in mind for both the exhibition galleries and the timeline.

With regard to an event to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the uprisings in 2012, we are in fact already exploring the opportunity to host a performance next year of Mikron Theatre’s show ‘Can You Keep a Secret? The Rise & Fall of the Yorkshire Luddites’. As the museum is an independent, registered charity, this will be dependent on funding, as will our ability to make any changes or developments to the museum in the future. If you would be willing to work with the museum to fundraise for, and organise, an event and performance of ‘Can You Keep a Secret?’ in 2012, I would be very interested in working with you on that.

I hope that this letter has answered your concerns. I hear that the Manchester and Salford Anarchist Bookfair was a great success on Saturday 3 December and I’m very glad to hear that you got so many visitors. We hope to be able to host another Bookfair again next year.

8th December 1811: General Dyott arrives in Nottingham

General William Dyott, the area commander for the Midlands, arrived in Nottingham, having been directed by government to attend. He held a conference with the magistrates and listened to their plans, which he apparently approved of.

8th December 1811: Royal Berkshire Militia arrive in Nottingham

After a six-day forced march from Ipswich, the Royal Berkshire Militia finally arrive in Nottingham in the evening, led by Lieutenant-Colonel Ravenshaw. The regiment requisitioned waggons along their route to hasten their journey, owing to news (which turned out to be false) that there had been a large outbreak of frame-breaking in the town of Nottingham.

The regiment was later stationed in detachments in many of the villages that had been most affected by frame-breaking.

7th December 1811: Luddites return to Pentrich

Five nights after their visit to Pentrich, where not one frame was broken, Derbyshire Luddites returned, this time with intent. Ten stocking frames were broken, along with some lace frames.

5 nights previously, a Mr B Topham had been subject to inquiries by Derbyshire Luddites, and he had given them assurances that he had no wide frames. That night, he was returning from Nottingham when he found Luddites breaking some of his lace frames. Topham quickly went to the vicarage, obtained the key to the church and went there to ring one of the bells.

With the threat that the whole village would be woken by the ringing bells, and that the alarm would spread, The Luddites knew it would not be safe for them to remain much longer, and retreated, pausing to destroy one frame a short distance from the village. They then made their way out to Swanwick and Riddings, to break more frames.

7th December 1811: Frame-breaking in more than one County

The night of Saturday 7th December saw attacks mounted by Luddites in both Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire.

In Nottinghamshire, 6 frames were broken at Bulwell and 4 at Arnold.

In Derbyshire, Luddites were active breaking 10 frames at Pentrich, 3 at Swanwick and 2 at Riddings.

7th December 1811: George Paley committed to Nottingham Goal

George Paley was committed on this day to the County gaol. He was charged with breaking stocking frames belonging to Francis Betts at Sutton-in-Ashfield on 13th November 1811.

7th December 1811: Leeds Mercury Editorial

MILITARY coercion has not been so operative in Nottinghamshire as we were led last week to suppose. The depredations of the Frame-Breakers are still continued, and on one occasion they seem to have had a “method in their madness” that cannot fail to create alarm,—not that the Military may not be able to succeed in putting them down, but that much property will be destroyed, and many lives lost, before perfect tranquillity is restored. To what an alarming crisis is this country brought when its Military force, instead of being employed against our foreign enemies, is obliged to act, reluctantly indeed, against our own subjects, made blind and desperate by privation and want. Nor is the cause of this riotous disposition confined to Nottinghamshire―it exists in almost all the manufacturing districts of the kingdom, both in Woollens, Cottons and Iron, though Nottinghamshire, alone, is happily the only scene of popular outrage. And is it not well worth while to enquire how all this danger and suffering may be brought to an end? And if the men to whose incompetent hands the administration of the government of the country is unfortunately committed, are unable or unwilling to remedy the evil, does it not behove the People, particularly in the manufacturing and commercial counties, now Parliament is about to assemble, to exercise their constitutional right and meet and instruct their Representatives. Nor ought we to allow ourselves to be diverted from this course by fear of the calumnies of weak and corrupt men, who tell us that the riots in Nottinghamshire are owing to French Gold! and who, to conceal the true cause of the evil, will tell their shallow dupes any thing.—No; these riots owe not their rise and progress to the gold of Napoleon, but to the politics of PITT and his adherents; and so long as the system acted upon by that Minister, whose lofty spirit was subdued at the contemplation of the misery his ill-fated councils had produced, are pursued, we may be distressed, but we cannot be surprised either at disaster abroad or commotion at home.

6th December 1811: Stocking-frames broken at Holbrook

The next target of the Derbyshire Luddites was one of the biggest Hosiery firms in the County, that of Padget & Byng. They owned hundreds of stocking frames in many of the Derbyshire villages, which they valued at £12 to £14 each.¹

At Holbrook, a master stockinger called Henry Walker had several of Padget & Byng's frames in his shop. Between 2 and 3 a.m. on the 7th December he was roused from his sleep by a loud knocking at his door and voices demanding to be let in. He quickly got out of bed, but before he had time to dress himself the Luddites assembled outside began to smash his windows and eventually open the door. Posting several of their number to keep watch outside, the Luddites climbed the stairs of the workshop to the upstairs room where the stocking frames were kept. They were disguised with blackened faces and wore large great coats and frocks. All were armed with different types of firearms as well as swords. They had brought hammers and crowbars to destroy the frames, and once all the frames had been removed from the building, they proceeded to smash them to pieces in the road.

The commotion had woken people at neighbouring houses, but those who appeared at their windows and lit candles were threatened with violence lest they put out their lights and returned to bed.

6th December 1811: Luddites soliciting contributions in Hugglescoat, Leicestershire

On Friday 6th December at 2 p.m., 3 men called at the home of Thomas Wayte, a framework-knitter in the Leicestershire village of Hugglescoat, all of them strangers. The strangers made it clear they were 'mobbers' who had taken part in 'mobbing' which some of their conrades were now in prison for. They needed funds to pay for the legal representation required. Wayte contributed 1 shilling.

On the same day, 4 men appeared at the home of Edward Twigg, a framework-knitter in the village of Ibstock. They asked him for money to help those out of work in Nottingham. Twigg gave the men a shilling.

John Frearson was also visited in Ibstock, and he was shown a letter from Ned Lud, similar to that shown framework-knitters in Osgathorpe. He paid sixpence.

6th December 1811: Derby Magistrates request help from the Home Office

County Hall Derby

Decr. 6. 1811.

Sir

We the Magistrates resident & acting in the District of our County contiguous to that part of Nottinghamshire, where Disturbances amongst the stockingers have, during some time, alarmingly prevailed, feel ourselves called upon by our Duty to state to you the following circumstances;

A representation having been made to us within the last fortnight of the extension of those disturbances into Derbyshire, we directed watch to be kept, & a large number of Special Constables were appointed in those Townships where the Inhabitants are chiefly Stockingers. Of the failure of our endeavours the Depositions & Statements, accompanying this letter, will but too plainly evince; from which failure & from the secrecy and suddenness with which these depredations have been committed, it strongly appears to us that no occasional or merely temporary remedies will put a stop to them – Great apprehensions prevail also at Shardlow & Cavendish Bridge in this neighbourhood, where the Trent & Grand Trunk Navigations meet, & where the Wharfs & Warehouses are very extensive & stored with articles of great value; & we understand from report that they threaten to destroy the several Locks on the line of the Canal which if carried into execution would instantly throw Ten Thousand Colliers out of work [In the Military Depot near Derby (a building of little defence in its construction & guarded only by a few men) there are supposed to be at this time twelve Thousand Stand of Arms & forty Tons of Gunpowder a reference to the Board of Ordnance would ascertain that point] sent to the Ordnance 10th

We are fully persuaded that these mischiefs will proceed, unless immediate measures are adopted for the protection of the Country, & the damage be to very great amount. And we request the favor of your attention to the circumstances & press for immediate assistance.

FNC Mundy
Dan Parker Coke
J Balguy
B Heathcote
E Witwell
John Radford
Edward Miller Mundy

Derby 6 December 1811

Right Honourable Richard Ryder

P.S. Since his application was resolved on yesterday at our petty sessions, Mr Byng, a Master Hosier, has attended with a statement of what happened last night in his Concern, which we also transmit.

6th December 1811: William Nunn, lace manufacturer to Home Office

6 December, 1811

Sir,

The Bearer Mr. Hutton is a Sherrifs Officer from Nottingham with an address from the Corporation to Lord Holland: he will communicate to you the Mischief done and doing, their Systems and the best means to detect them.

As many Hundred Letters have been sent sign’d ‘Ludd’ threatening the Lives and to burn and destroy the Houses Frames and Porperty of most of the principal Manufacturers through the Post office, and very few letters are sent through that means but on these occasions, were you to direct Mr. Connant or those in whom you place your confidence, that when such Letters come, the Person within to open them, and by signal give Notice to others without to follow them, you would in a few Days find out the Committee: directly opposite is a Hair Dressers shop where women boys or men might be station’d, or any others, as three long streets command a Sight of the Office, again if Thirty, one Pound Banknotes all mark'd were to be sent to Mr. . . . who keeps the Sir Isaac Newton in a Bag, with Directions to send them to Ludd and his Men, they would immediately get into circulation through the Butcher Baker etc. get the five Banks when they come in, (which they would do in a few days) to make each Person write his name and place of abode on them and send them to the Magistrates who would send for the Parties all together and examine them, it would immediately be found who the acting men were.

For those who are demolishing in the Villages, a man or two should be placed at the top of a house in each, or on a Hill by the Roadside with Rockets when a party of these Men were in a Village, send up one or more of the Rockets giving a particular Light which would give the alarm to the other on Watch the Soldiers on Guard in the neighbouring Towns to push forward to the Rocket, giving the Signal where the Rioters are: the horse along the Roads, the Foot over the Fields, a sufficient Number would be secured to stop the whole: leave a few Men in each adjoining Village to detect such as might escape: martial law being proclaimed and every Man order’d to be in by eight or nine ‘Clock at Night: but unless the most severe examples are made of a score of these men every manufacturing Town will follow: every improvement will be stopp’d, all cautious men will draw their capitals from the Trade, and Thousands will suffer for a few infamous Wretches who exist in every manufacturing Town in the Kingdom ready and ripe for all Mischief.

If you would send Mr. Connant six more men by tonights mail, all may be quieted in a week, and all well as soon as the Leaders are taken: their system is such, and their plans so well laid, that soldiers stationed cannot be a match for them.

I have no Letter this morning, but expect it at three ‘clock by heavy coach.

I am [etc.]

Wm. Nunn

P.S. Mr. Hutton not having been here agreeable to his promise I have it best not to wait.

5th December 1811: Frame-breaking at Ilkeston - anatomy of a Luddite attack

In the early hours of Friday the 6th December, Derbyshire Luddites again attacked frames at Ilkeston. Amongst their targets that night were the workshops of Thomas and Christopher Harrison.

At 1 a.m., 30 to 40 Luddites, their faces disguised with cloth masks or handkerchiefs, broke into the workshop of Thomas Harrison. One of the Luddites stood guard outside armed with a musket with a bayonet attached. The frames were broken in the shop itself, with Thomas Harrison staying in his bedroom during the attack. Five frames from his shop were destroyed before the Luddites left and moved on into the village. The group returned after 15 minutes, with one of them ordering a halt near Harrison's house. They then formed into ranks and marched off in a military fashion.

Elsewhere in Ilkeston, Christopher Harrison could not sleep. Following the attacks in Ilkeston on the 1st December, he was afraid his stocking frames would be next, and had already removed several in case of attack. At about 2 a.m. he was peering through a window in his house when his fears were realised - he saw 30 men gathered outside his house, with raised voices they threatened to kill anyone who opposed them. This was enough for Christopher - he opened another window and jumped down, making his way to a vantage point where he could watch what took place in safety. The Luddites had posted guards outside the house, and then began to smash the two remaining stocking frames that were there. But the Luddites seemed to know he had taken some of his frames away, and they threatened a girl present in his house with violence unless she revealed where the frames had been taken. In the end, the threats were empty, and they left without hurting anyone.

5th December 1811: Frames broken at Basford & in Nottingham

Little more than a day after the meeting of the manufacturers, Luddites struck in Nottingham itself, at a workshop in Tyler Street 'which was working goods to an inferior price'.¹

On the same evening, 4 frames were broken at Basford.²

5th December 1811: Luddites soliciting contributions in Osgathorpe, Leicestershire

On Thursday the 5th December, framework-knitters in Leicestershire received visits from Luddites soliciting contributions for the cause.

William Brown Junior of Osgathorpe was making his way through the village near to the home of a Joseph Woodcock when a fellow framework-knitter Thomas Maton Harris beckoned him inside to meet three strangers. Harris explained that he wanted Brown to gather together the head stockingers and bring them back to Woodcock's house, with a veiled threat that if he did not he "would be worse for it."

Brown collected his father, William Brown Senior, as well as William Hardy and William Davenport Senior and headed back to Woodcock's house for 5 p.m. to find others from the neighbourhood gathered there, including a Hosier, Thomas Gilbert. When there, Thomas Maton Harris took the three men into the parlour and presented them with a letter from Ned Lud, which read:

“Gentleman all — Ned Lud’s compliments unto you and hope you will give a trifle towards supporting his army as he well understands the act of breaking up not just frames: if you comply with this it will be well, if not, I shall call upon you myself. Edward Lud”

Hardy had no money on him, and had to borrow a shilling from Maton Harris, contributing sixpence. Davenport had a number of frames in his workshop, and fearing they would be broken by Ned Lud's army if he refused contributed 1 shilling sixpence for himself and another shilling for his son. William Brown Senior gave 2 shillings. Hardy noticed that in total, 7 shillings and 6 pence had been laid upon the table by those present. Maton Harris asked Gilbert if he would like to contribute as well, but Gilbert said nothing and promptly left the house.

Hardy returned home and never saw the 3 strangers again. Gilbert however, returned later to Woodcock's house to find Maton Harris still present. Maton Harris told him 'in an apparent friendly way' that his frames, along with those of Messrs Johnson were to be broken by the Luddites.