Peterloo 16th August 1819

[hobbit.]

Lest we forget.


Dumb yanks havent got a clue.

On the 16th of August 1819 the huge open area around what's now St Peter's Square, Manchester, played host to an outrage against over 60,000 peaceful pro-democracy and anti-poverty protesters; an event which became known as
The Peterloo Massacre.

An estimated 18 people, including four women and a child, died from sabre cuts and trampling. Nearly 700 men, women and children received extremely serious injuries. All in the name of liberty and freedom from poverty.

The Massacre occurred during a period of immense political tension and mass protests. Fewer than 2% of the population had the vote, and hunger
was rife with the disastrous corn laws making bread unaffordable.

PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY

On the morning of 16th August the crowd began to gather, conducting themselves, according to contemporary accounts, with dignity and discipline, the majority dressed in their Sunday best.

from http://www.peterloomassacre.org/history.html

 

[Sean]

It's sad how many people, even in the UK, have no idea about the Peterloo massacre.

 

[hobbit.]

It's sad how many people, even in the UK, have no idea about the Peterloo massacre.

you could always join my campaign to get st peter sq (or at least the tramstop there) renamed as peterloo sq.. 2019 is the 200th anniversary.

 

[Sean]

you could always join my campaign to get st peter sq (or at least the tramstop there) renamed as peterloo sq.. 2019 is the 200th anniversary.

Consider me joined.

 

[ishtat]

Peterloo was the worst such repression in the post Napoleonic war period but there were many others. My 3 times Great Grandfather was a small landowner who was involved in a volunteer militia putting down a demonstration by workers in Yeovil - also in 1819. A grateful magistracy awarded him an inscribed 'trophy' for using his hunting whip to flog the plebs into submission

We still have the 'trophy' tried to give it to Ruskin college but they didn't want it.

Gt Gt Gt Grandad diaried that they had an exciting day and apart from a few cuts and bruises the only casualty was a young woman who 'threw'(spontaneously miscarried a child - but only after a 'sound flogging'.

Times have changed.

 

[hobbit.]

Consider me joined.

you are now joined. i will keep you informed of updates.

I hope you are attending the welcome to manchester party, organised by the peoples assembly, in October,..... in manchester....... should be a nice day.

 

[hobbit.]

Peterloo was the worst such repression in the post Napoleonic war period but there were many others. My 3 times Great Grandfather was a small landowner who was involved in a volunteer militia putting down a demonstration by workers in Yeovil - also in 1819. A grateful magistracy awarded him an inscribed 'trophy' for using his hunting whip to flog the plebs into submission

We still have the 'trophy' tried to give it to Ruskin college but they didn't want it.

Gt Gt Gt Grandad diaried that they had an exciting day and apart from a few cuts and bruises the only casualty was a young woman who 'threw'(spontaneously miscarried a child - but only after a 'sound flogging'.

Times have changed.

there is quite a large, largely unwritten, history of working class disturbances in Britain. It should be put right.

We have a campaign to get the site of peterloo recognised for future generations.