23rd November 1811: Frame-breaking comes to the Town of Nottingham

Up until Saturday 23rd November, frame-breaking had largely been confined to the county villages and not the town of Nottingham. Indeed, many Hosiers had begun to bring their frames into the town, in the hope that it would afford their machines some protection. But that hope & pattern was broken on that night, along with a frame at a house in the town.

23rd November 1811: Editorial in the Leeds Mercury

We are more concerned than surprised to find, that a Spirit of Riot and Insubordination has broken out in the county of Nottingham amongst the suffering Manufacturers. As it frequently happens on such occasions, the cause of the distress of these unfortunate people is mistaken; they imagine, it seems, that the low rate of wages and the scarcity of work arise from some improvement in the Stocking weaving Frames, and their vengeance is directed against the owners of these inoffensive implements of labour; but they ought to be informed that the real cause of the evils of which they so loudly and justly complain, is the long continuance of a heart-sickening war, without visible object, and apparently without end, and which has in its consequences damned up all the regular outlets of trade; and if instead of sacking the workshops of their employers, who are in general deep participators in the sufferings of the labouring classes, they would unite with the other manufacturers throughout the kingdom in petitioning the proper authorities, first to inform them what it is we are fighting for; and secondly, if the object does not justify the sacrifices, to put a stop to the horrors and miseries of this contest, they would act much more wisely and have a much better chance of seeing an end of their grievances, than by their present lawless and senseless proceedings. We do most sincerely commisserate their situation, but we utterly condemn the means by which they seek to obtain redress.

20th November 1811: Troop Movements

2 troops of the 15th Light Dragoons arrive in Nottingham after undertaking a forced march from Colchester. The following day, they head for Mansfield and adjacent villages, where they will be stationed.

At the same time, the Holme and Bunny troops of Yeomanry Cavalry come off duty and return to their homes.

20th November 1811: George Coldham, Town Clerk to Richard Ryder, Secretary of State for the Home Office

Sir

The Mayor and Aldermen of Nottingham are duly sensible of your attention to the request which the Danger in which the Publick Peace here was involved compelled them to address to you on 13th of November Instant manifested by the Letter addressed to me by your directions and in the very prompt and efficient aid afforded them by the Secretary at War in Directing a Squadron of Cavalry to march to the assistance of this District and in the Orders issued to the General of the District to afford further aid in case the Emergency should call for it.

At the time the Magistrates for the Town first address themselves to you it was not so much from a Fear as to the Inhabitants of the Town that they required additional protection as from a Conviction that it Disposition to mischief was widely spread in the County and had assumed an order and method capable of combined efforts which were chiefly Directed to the destruction of that part of the Stocking Frames in the Manufactory of the Neighbourhood which were most obnoxious to popular Prejudice; a great part of which were in the Hands of Workmen resident in the Town and which it was therefore the special Duty of the Magistrates to protect. — It has not been until this day that the whole of the Cavalry Destined for our Assistance has arrived. In the mean time the Disposition to tumult in the County has been manifested in numerous acts of violence and has induced the High Sheriff to call out two the Corps of Yeomanry Cavalry and the first and second Regiments of Local Militia. The First Regiment of Local Militia is quartered in the Town and Colonel Wright its Commanding Officer has been in constant communication with the Magistrates and to his active Exertions and steady attention as well as every other Officer and Soldier of the Regiment they desire to bear the fullest Testimony.

The Mayor and Aldermen are persuaded that the very prompt and energetic manner in which so great a force has been assembled for the protection of the Publick Peace has been eminently serviceable in shewing the misguided People in how instantaneous a manner the publick Security can be placed beyond the reach of their Violence but they must look with alarm at any long continuance of the Expense to which the Country must be put by their continuing in Service, unless Urgent necessity should require it.

It is understood that if no measure is taken for continuing the Local Militia in Service beyond the first Fortnight from their being first assembled the Law would Disband them and the Magistrates of the Town now that they know that they have at their Command two Troops of regular Cavalry think it not necessary in any of the Regiments of Local Militia should continue assembled for their Security but they enter not into the Councils or Determination of the County Magistrates to whom is committed the Safety of the County and the means to secure it.

The Mayor and Aldermen still think that if the Convenience of the service would permit it would be essential to the full security and efficient protection of the Town and County that a Body of 200 or 300 Infantry should be stationed in the Town for the Winter.

I have communicated the substance of this Letter at Secretary of War and the General of the District.

The Magistrates desire me to add that they have appointed upwards of 400 Special Constables from amongst the most respectable and able of the Town People and after having kept a Nightly Watch from the most trusty of their regular Constables in order to discover whether any of the Town’s People have taken part in the disturbances in the County have not been able to ascertain that any number of the People of the Town have left it or returned to it, from which they infer that they have taken no part in the acts of Violence committed in the County. In the Town no Frame has been Destroyed or any act of Violence committed.

I have [etc]

George Coldham Town Clerk

Nottingham 20th November 1811

The Honourable Mr Ryder, Secretary of State

19th November 1811: Threats & tension at New Radford

After threats had been issued and a stone had been thrown through the window of a workshop in New Radford, the local Militia was called out to stand guard over the this and one other house. The Militia spent the rest of the night patrolling the vicinity.

19th November 1811: Reprisals & arson at Hucknall Torkard

Tuesday the 19th saw another arson attack on hay ricks, this time at Hucknall Torkard, where 2 belonging to a Mr. Hardstaff and Mr. Toon were set alight. Conant & Baker allege that the motive lay in the owners connections to the suppression of the disturbances.

18th November 1811: Frame-breaking comes to Old Radford

On Monday 18th November, one of the hated 'wide frames' was broken to pieces at a house in Acomb Lane, Old Radford.

18th November 1811: Reprisals and arson at Sneinton

Two nights after the arson attack on John Stirrup's hay rick at Mansfield, and a similar attack is launched on a hay rick belonging to a Mr Lewis of Sneinton, at Sneinton Field. A relative of Lewis was a member of the Holme-Pierrepont Yeomanry which had been called out on duty the previous week.

Although the fire was put out, and the remaining hay moved to a nearby farm-building, this building was also set alight the following night. The Luddites and/or their sympathisers were issuing clear and unambiguous warnings to the local bourgeoisie - assist in their suppression and there will be consequences.

17th November 1811: High Sheriff of Nottingham to Home Office

Norwood Park
near Southwell
Nottingham
Nov. 17th 1811

Rt Hon Sir

By a letter, which I have the honor of receiving last Night, I am informed that a Regular Military force has been ordered to proceed for the purpose of quelling the Riots which are taking place in this County.— As I consider it my duty to relate to you the particulars of the proceedings which I have adopted upon the sudden & unexpected commotion which threatened the peace of the County, I have the honour to transmit to you the foll.g statement. –

Upon the receipt of a most [illegible] letter (which reach me about 6 o'clock on the morning of the 14th Inst.) from a leading Magistrate residing in this Neighbourhood; stating that a lawless Mob was then marching through the County armed with fire arms &c. &c. exceeding a thousand Men, and giving it as his opinion that I, as High Sheriff, ought to call out the Posse Comitatus, & send expenses to all the Yeomanry Cavalry in the County to assemble immediately at the Red Hill in the Parish of Arnold; that the Special Constables dare not turn out, or could they resist so great a force; & that, moreover, nearly two thousand Men had marched (as he was informed) from the neighbouring Villages in the Night, to join the other insurgents; I did in consequence of such Intelligence in the quickest manner in my power, send Expenses to the following corps.

viz

The 1st or Nottingham Corps of L.l Militia
The 2nd or Southwell Corps of L.l Militia
Newark Troop (Capt. Chaplin) of Yeo. Cavalry
Ollerton Troop (Dk. Newcastle) of Yeo. Cavalry
Holme Troop (Capt. Bittrin) of Yeo. Cavalry
Bunny Troop (Capt Boullbee) of Yeo. Cavalry

After collecting at Southwell (the Town nearest to my own Residence) what Constables & people I could, I repaired immediately to Red Hill, at which place I arrived about 2 PM. — Upon meeting there with a party of Regular dragoons, sent thither by the Magistrates of Nott.m from the Barracks, to my assistance I proceeded in company with them & my other attendants (having first stationed what few (about 30) of the 2nd L. Militia had collected, at the above place) to the Town of Arnold, read the Riot Act, took up a number of suspicious persons, & intimidated others.— As it appeared to be the object of the Rioters, for the purpose of exciting the commissaration of the inhabitants of, & others collected in this populous Village to enter at Night, in formal procession, the Body of a Man who had been killed in the Fray which occurred two or three days before, I ordered that the Funeral should take place in the daytime, & remained during the whole Ceremony. (without, in the smallest degree, interfering with or interrupting the studied formality of the Scene) of the procession & Internment.

The alertness with which the different Corps assembled themselves (& a proudly great praise is due to them all for this singular promptitude on this occasion) & the rapidity of their motions, have in a considerable degree quelled the disturbance; still, however, affairs bear so threatening an aspect, that I shall not deem it requisite (two Hay Stacks, as I am informed, having been burnt last night) to dismiss the Military Force I have collected, until I am informed of the arrival of the Regular Mil.y Force which, I understand, is proceeding hither: when that Force does arrive I shall think it necessary to disband the provincial Corps.

I shall deem it a favour if you will do me the honor to inform me what Reports & Returns of the several Corps of Ll. Mlitia & Yeo. Cavalry called out will be required to be made in order to enable the Men who comprise them to receive their pay and allowances.— Should any thing further of Moment occur, I shall not fail to make you acquainted with the particulars;

I have [etc]

Thomas Wright

High Sheriff of Nottingham

Rt Hon. Sec. of State

P.S.— My letter, I fear, may appear [illegible] but, as a Statement of Facts has been considered necessary. I have confined them to as now limited circumstances have allowed.—

17th November 1811: Troop movements

A troop of Scots Greys from Lichfield arrive in Nottingham and proceed to the Barracks.

16th November 1811: Reprisals and arson at Mansfield

On Saturday night the 16th November 1811, John Stirrup, the proprietor of the Swan Inn, Mansfield and a local landowner, found a hay rick belonging to him ablaze. The fire had apparently been started deliberately, with the Derby Mercury reporting the motive as a form of reprisal, owing to his assisting the Mansfield Yeomanry by providing them with horses in their response to the frame-breaking at Sutton-in-Ashfield 3 nights before. The fire completely destroyed the hay rick, which amounted to 20 tons of hay.

16th November 1811: Fletcher's spy 'B' hears of an Irish Rising and meets a Nottingham Framework-knitter

In Lancashire, Colonel Fletcher's informant 'B' began to write another report on the 11th November about the underground in Lancashire and Cheshire. But he started his report with news of Ireland from an Irish contact. The contact explained that 200,000 Catholics and Protestants were ready to rise in either April or May 1812, with religion and sectarian division seemingly having as loose a grip on society than ever before, & that they expected to receive help with arms and troops from the French. As a member of the Orange Order, this no doubt horrified Fletcher more than anything else.

The meeting of the Trades scheduled for Wednesday 13th was brought forward to the Tuesday, as a General meeting was scheduled for Thursday 14th. The Trades meeting discussed petitioning the Prince Regent for a reform of Parliament and an end to war, and scheduling a meeting 'of towns of Manchester' to enable this.

The General meeting on the 14th was described by 'B' as being packed, and proceeded to ratify the plans laid by the meeting two nights before and set up a committee to organise a Requisition. 'B' describes how a 'publickation ... from Glasgow' was read to the meeting, but the he apologised to Fletcher for not obtaining it, expressing fears that his life would be in danger should he be discovered to be spying.

'B' went on to relate how, on Saturday 16th November, he had met a man called Williamson from Nottingham, who he describes as some kind of Master Framework-knitter travelling to market his wares. Williamson describes how not only Nottingham, but also the surrounding area is 'ready' and waiting for a leader to emerge and that they 'was for a revelaiton and nothing Else as nothing Else would do'.

16th November 1811: Duke of Newcastle to Home Office

Clumber
Nov. 16, 1811

Sir,

Had there been any post from hence yesterday l should have written to inform you that within these few days some disturbances have unfortunately arisen in that part of the County which lies between Nottingham and Mansfield.

The rioters are chiefly stockingers, and the causes of discontent, in the first instance, that a new machine had been invented which enabled the manufacturers to employ women in many instances in which men had hitherto been employed; also that the malcontents were looking to exacting greater wages than the manufacturers were able or inclined to pay them, and this because trade is very flat and that there are many industrious men (sufficient in number to supply the trade) who will work at more moderate terms.

Those who were then thrown out of employ by reason of the new invention and of their not choosing to work for decreased wages thought to realise their demands by force, and imagined that their ends would be gained by proceeding to destroy the frames of those who would work for the manufacturers and for this purpose broke into the houses of those who possessed them destroyed their frames and committed many outrages.

The rioters proceeded in considerable parties armed with firearms and the Householders were determined on their side to protect their property; in doing this a life was lost and some men hurt — this made the affair serious and exasperated the mob. It was then found absolutely necessary to call out the armed force to the assistance of the Magistrates and in consequence the whole of the Local Militia and Yeomanry Cavalry were called out and are now under arms.

The promptitude with which the armed force was assembled intimidated the rioters and on their (the military) marching against them they every where dispersed. I am informed that the rioters are compleatly overawed by the force which has been brought against them and it is expected that order will be very soon entirely restored.

It should be observed that these disturbances are entirely of a local and partial nature, totally unmixed as yet with any political notions, tho’ I should add that in addition to the reasons which I have above given in a former part of my letter the high price of corn very much tends to aggravate their grievances.

I anxiously hope that l may in the course of a few days be able to write you word of the total extinction of all riot and that the accustomed order of things is returned.

It will however be a matter of great satisfaction to you to learn as well as it is to me to inform you that the Yeomanry cavalry and Local Militia are well disposed; the former has been most employed and the alacrity with which they came forward, and their conduct when ordered to act is I am informed entitled to the greatest praise, they have been of great use in bringing about the present state of things and may on all occasions be thoroughly depended upon.

The Local Militia from the nature of their service cannot have been so much employed, but I learn that they most of them quickly repaired to Head Quarters when required to do so, and many as they collected where marched against the rioters. I will endeavour to obtain more accurate information of the spirit which animates the Local Militia regts. as it is an highly essential and most interesting point to ascertain. From all I can at present learn I have every reason to believe that the Local Militia regiments may be trusted, and in that case the county armed force is most ample to protect the county against the most extended riots.

I am to receive accurate reports from all parts of the County tomorrow and I will not fail to inform you of the result.

I have [etc]

NEWCASTLE

16th November 1811: Troop movements

The Newark Local Militia are sent home.

15th November 1811: Troop movements

Having assembled the previous day, the 1st Regiment of Nottinghamshire Local Militia is given the task of mounting a permanent guard at the Exchange in Market Square in Nottingham.

15th November 1811: A Courier from Nottingham delivers a letter to the Home Office

At 3.00 a.m. on Friday 15th November, a special courier sent by the Nottingham authorities the day before arrived at the Home Office in London with two identical letters, one bound for the Secretary at War Lord Palmerston, and the other for the Home Secretary, Richard Ryder. The letter read as follows:

Nottingham 13th of Nov. 1811.

Sir

The Magistrates of the Town of Nottingham have communicated to the Magistrates of the County the application which they have made to you for a Military Force to preserve the Peace of this District.

The disturbed state of this part of the Country, the number of persons assembling amounting frequently to 2 or 300, armed some of them with fire-arms, and others with bludgeons for the avow’d purpose of breaking forcibly into houses to destroy Stocking Frames, and there actually destroying Stocking Frames and other property and threatening yet further outrages, have excited a very general alarm and the civil power is totally ineffectual for suppressing the riots and restoring tranquillity.

The disturbances have at present prevailed chiefly in the County, because the population being there dispersed the property cannot be so well defended –

The Magistrates of the County have assembled for the purpose of considering what measures are necessary to restore and preserve the Public Peace and being convinced that nothing less than an adequate Military force can be effectual for that purpose, have directed me to add their request to that of the Magistrates of the Town, that not less than the force applied for by them, may be immediately sent to this place and Neighbourhood.

I am desired to add that since the communication made to you by the Magistrates of the Town, the Magistrates of the County have understood that the present inefficient force at the Barracks arises from several detachments having been already called out to escort French prisoners.

I have written a similar letter to the Secretary at War.

And have the honor to be

Sir, Your obedient humble servant

George Sculthorpe

Clerk to the Magistrates

14th November 1811: Troop movements

The High Sheriff ordered the Newark Troop of Local Militia to muster at Redhill near Arnold, and the troops arrived swiftly and 4.30 p.m. There being no disturbances in the area that night, they then proceeded to Southwell where they were to remain stationed.

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.

14th November 1811: 420 Special Constables sworn in

The Town Magistrates in Nottingham swore in 420 Special Constables, who were selected from 'the most respectable Inhabitants of the Place', as Conant & Baker put it.

The Magistrates also ensured that in future some of their number attended the Police Office in Nottingham each night to place Constables on watch and communicate with both them and any military force as necessary.

On the same day, Public Notice was given in Nottingham for the assembly of the 1st Regiment of Nottinghamshire Local Militia under Lieutenant-Colonel Wright.

14th November 1811: J Beckett at the Home Office to William Sherbrooke, County Magistrate

Whitehall 14 November 1811

Sir

I am directed by Mr Secretary Ryder to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 12th instant relative to certain riotous proceedings which have taken place in the vicinity of Nottingham, and requesting that an additional Military force might be sent thither to aid the Civil Power in the Preservation of the Peace, and I am to acquaint you that a Squadron of the 15th Dragoons has been ordered to repair immediately to Nottingham and that General Dyott at who commands the District has been directed to afford such additional force as may be necessary in case of emergency.

I am &c.

J. Beckett

[to] William Sherbrooke Esq Southwell Nottingham