HistoryExtra
type: channel
link: https://www.historyextra.com
description: The official website for BBC History Magazine
date: 2025-02-04T14:50:27.000Z
update period: hourly
update frequency: 1
update base: 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00
items: Reading between the lines: the real-life events that inspired Jane Austen
items: The Pentrich Rising: England's forgotten armed revolution
items: Michael Wood on the Peterloo photograph
items: The Peterloo Massacre: what did it achieve?
items: The Peterloo Massacre: how a peaceful protest turned into bloody chaos
items: "Peterloo felt relevant, given all the crazy and chaotic things that are happening now": Mike Leigh on a massacre
items: Mike Leigh on Peterloo
items: The Peterloo Massacre
items: 16 August 1819: Militia massacres protesters at ‘Peterloo’
items: Why were there so few casualties at Peterloo?

Reading between the lines: the real-life events that inspired Jane Austen
type: item
date: 2024-01-19T18:13:04.000Z
subject: Georgian
subject: Membership
subject: Period
subject: HistoryExtra Academy
subject: HistoryExtra Academy Regency Course
description: Beneath the genteel surface of decorous society, unrest simmered in the world – and works – of Jane Austen
encoded: While the novels of Jane Austen might suggest an endless schedule of middle- and upper-class gaiety, disgruntlement was rumbling beneath the surface across the country – and, during this tail end of the Georgian era, it often erupted in violent, sometimes lethal protest. Not that Austen herself completely ignored what was happening in the country beyond Barton Cottage and Netherfield Park. For instance, her fifth novel, Northanger Abbey, refers to the unrest erupting in England’s larger cities. Although she writes about a riot as imagined by one of the characters, the rather visceral description depicts: “a mob of three thousand men assembling in St George’s Fields, the Bank attacked, the Tower threatened, the streets of London flowing with blood”. Whether real or imagined, Austen’s inspiration for this tableau does seem to have come from real-life events. The episode appears to be a conflation of at least two separate disturbances that occurred prior to Northanger Abbey’s publication. In 1808, perhaps 6,000 weavers from the local – and rapidly growing – textile industry in Manchester gathered in St George’s Fields to protest about the lack of a minimum wage in their trade. Eight years later, not long before Austen’s novel was published, another riot broke out in London at the end of a hitherto peaceful protest. During the violence, the rioters even planned to attack the Tower of London – so it was surely not mere coincidence that Austen’s imagined account of the unrest included the Tower being “threatened”. Fighting for fair pay The weavers’ protest in Manchester may have been violent but it did achieve a modicum of success. Though dragoons were called in to restore peace (and one protester died during this response), the rioting was replicated in surrounding towns in Lancashire, and the weavers won a small concession in the form of a modest rise in their wages. Some scholars of Jane Austen believe that the Gordon Riots of 1780 also contributed to her description i…

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The Pentrich Rising: England's forgotten armed revolution
type: item
date: 2022-01-28T09:22:41.000Z
creator: Stephen Bates
subject: Georgian
subject: Industrial revolution
subject: Membership
subject: Period
description: In 1817, a working-class uprising was brutally quashed amid accusations that government spies had deliberately incited the rebels. Stephen Bates relates the tragedy of the Pentrich Rising...
encoded: On 9 June 1817, a mob of men marched nervously through darkness and driving rain down the country lanes of Derbyshire. They were on their way – or so they thought – to capture Nottingham, 14 miles away, as part of a national revolt to overthrow the government. They did not know it at the time but the Pentrich revolutionaries, as they came to be called, were taking part in the last armed insurrection in English history – and, according to the late historian EP Thompson, the first entirely working-class political uprising. Armed with pikes and a few muskets, and led by an unemployed stocking weaver called Jeremiah Brandreth – known to them for his Luddite activities as ‘the Nottingham Captain’ – they expected to be joined by thousands of others marching down “like a cloud” from Yorkshire and Lancashire. Read more | Your guide to the Luddite movement They were assured that a further 50,000 men in London could be quickly summoned to seize the government and capture the Bank of England. In reality, they were on their own. Most of the men were unclear as to what the political aim was, beyond cancelling the national debt and shooting ministers. Perhaps a provisional government would be set up, one that would hand out provisions to the starving populace – but, more immediately, the men had been promised money, food, rum and boat rides on the river Trent. As they marched wearily on, Brandreth led the singing: “The time is come, you plainly see/The government opposed must be.” The men on the march were weavers, farm labourers and iron workers. Most were related to each other, and many – including Brandreth – were Primitive Methodists. They blamed the autocratic government and aristocratic ministers for their distress. Many were out of work and without food, the result of the contraction of the economy after the Napoleonic Wars. But they were also victims of a natural phenomenon of which they had no idea. An ash cloud from the 1815 volcanic eruption of Mount Tambora, on the In…

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Michael Wood on the Peterloo photograph
type: item
date: 2020-02-14T12:03:06.000Z
creator: Michael Wood
subject: Georgian
subject: Membership
subject: Period
subject: Column
description: Michael Wood talks to us about a photograph that links his family to the Peterloo massacre of 1819
encoded: The acclaimed popular historian and broadcaster Michael Wood talks to us about a photograph he discovered that links his family to the infamous Peterloo massacre of 1819.

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The Peterloo Massacre: what did it achieve?
type: item
date: 2019-08-07T15:00:01.000Z
creator: Stephen Bates
subject: Georgian
subject: Membership
subject: Period
description: It started as a peaceful appeal for political reform, but ended with 18 dead and hundreds injured. Stephen Bates describes how the events of 16 August 1819 became a landmark moment in the struggle for democracy
encoded: What was the Peterloo Massacre? The Peterloo Massacre, which took place on 16 August 1819, was the worst violence ever to occur at a political meeting in Britain. Cavalry brutally dispersed a crowd of 60,000 protestors in Manchester taking part in a peaceful appeal for political reform. The many thousands of weavers and tradesmen and their families had gathered to consider “the propriety of adopting the most legal and effectual means of obtaining a reform”. The one thing they were not expecting as they made their way on foot to Manchester on that fateful Monday morning was a massacre. They came in from the suburbs and surrounding towns and villages respectably dressed, holding their children by the hand, marching in disciplined columns behind banners and flags, with bands playing patriotic tunes, to have an entertaining day out and to hear speeches calling for parliamentary reform. A “more shocking” massacre? How we might have overestimated the Peterloo crowds 16 August 1819: Militia massacres protesters at ‘Peterloo’ It was a fine summer day and the meeting was entirely legal. It had been called to consider – not to demand – “the propriety of adopting the most legal and effectual means of obtaining a reform”. And the demonstrators had been warned not to be provoked by what was sure to be a heavy presence of constables and local militia. They should, they were told, bring “no other weapon but that of a self-approving conscience”. “There were crowds of people in all directions, full of good humour, laughing and shouting and making fun,” recalled John Benjamin Smith, a 25-year-old businessman who witnessed the meeting. “It seemed to be a gala day with the country people who were mostly dressed in their best and brought with them their wives.” But what happened to them that day was the worst violence ever to occur at a political meeting in Britain, an event that shocked the nation and was pivotal in the long struggle for the vote. At least 18 people were killed and mor…

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The Peterloo Massacre: how a peaceful protest turned into bloody chaos
type: item
date: 2019-07-01T11:00:04.000Z
subject: Georgian
subject: Membership
subject: Period
description: In Manchester in August 1819, a peaceful protest quickly turned into bloody chaos. Here, BBC History Revealed explores the events that led to the Peterloo Massacre…
encoded: On 16 August 1819, more than 60,000 people gathered at St Peter’s Field, Manchester, bearing banners with the words ‘Reform’ and ‘Equal Representation’ written on them. The reform they wanted was that of Parliament itself – less than two per cent of the population were eligible to vote – and an end to the extreme poverty that gripped Britain. That, too, was deemed Parliament’s fault: the Corn Laws of 1815, which had introduced tariffs on imported grain at the end of the Napoleonic Wars, had seen the price of bread become astronomical. Famed radical orator Henry Hunt was scheduled to speak to the gathered crowds – many of whom had journeyed from miles around, some in their Sunday best. For those attending, it was an exciting day out; the processions heading for Manchester were accompanied by bands. Local magistrates watched the assembling crowd with some trepidation, imagining the gathering as having revolutionary and dangerous intentions. The magistrates attempted to read the crowd the Riot Act (from which we get the idiom – the now-defunct Act of 1714 gave authorities the ability to declare any group of 12 or more persons as being “unlawfully assembled”). The Peterloo Massacre: what did it achieve? Peterloo: the story of a massacre (podcast) A “more shocking” massacre? How we might have overestimated the Peterloo crowds Soldiers and cavalry watched on when the local militia was tasked with arresting the ringleaders. The protesters linked arms to prevent the arrests, at which point the militia began striking down people with their swords. This was mistaken as an attack by the protestors, causing the rest of the troops to engage the already bottled-up crowd. At least 11 people, including women and children, were killed during the horror that unfolded. Around 700 others received serious wounds as the soldiers slashed their way through. Many of the protest leaders were arrested, and the magistrates received messages of congratulations from the Prince Regent – later Geo…

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"Peterloo felt relevant, given all the crazy and chaotic things that are happening now": Mike Leigh on a massacre
type: item
date: 2018-11-02T11:00:11.000Z
creator: Ellie Cawthorne
subject: Georgian
subject: Period
description: On 16 August 1819, cavalry brutally dispersed a crowd of 60,000 protestors at St Peter’s Fields, Manchester, leaving at least 18 people dead and more than 600 injured. The event, known as the Peterloo Massacre, became became a landmark moment in the struggle for democracy. As major film Peterloo is released, we spoke to acclaimed writer and director Mike Leigh about the challenges of filming historical events and the relevance of Peterloo today…
encoded: What was it about Peterloo that first captured your imagination, and made you think that this would make an amazing film? Although I grew up in Manchester, I didn’t know much about what happened at Peterloo at all. Lots of us from that part of the world didn't. I don’t remember when I first read about it, but I do remember thinking: “somebody should make a film about this.” However, it never occurred to me that that somebody might be me – at that time I didn't think I would ever make a period film. But after I'd made Mr Turner [Leigh’s 2014 film about the painter], it suddenly dawned on me that it would be a good idea, not least because the bicentenary of Peterloo is coming up in 2019. Read more: The Peterloo Massacre Why were there so few casualties at Peterloo? <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/7/2018/11/PJAN7M_cmyk-cdbc8d7-da4b300.jpg" width="413" height="413" alt="Cavalry charge into a crowd of protesters at St Peter's Field, Manchester, as depicted in an 1819 engraving. What followed was the worst violence ever to occur at a political meeting in Britain. (Picture by Alamy)" title="Cavalry charge into a crowd of protesters at St Peter's Field, Manchester, as depicted in an 1819 engraving. What followed was the worst violence ever to occur at a political meeting in Britain. (Picture by Alamy)" /> At the very beginning of the process back in 2013, Peterloo felt relevant, but given all the crazy and chaotic things that are happening now, it's become even more prescient. We found ourselves saying “this is really relevant” on almost a daily basis. Why do you think Peterloo isn’t better known about in 2018? The way in which history is taught in schools today doesn't demand much in the way of how it relates to the average school child's life. But you can't talk about Peterloo without discussing what it was about and why it happened. Therefore, maybe it's dangerous in some way. You mean because it's almost too relevant to today? Correct.…

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Mike Leigh on Peterloo
type: item
date: 2018-11-01T15:04:18.000Z
subject: Georgian
subject: Membership
subject: Period
description: The acclaimed writer and director talks about the creation of his major new historical epic
encoded: The acclaimed writer and director talks about the creation of his major new historical epic, which explores the events of the Peterloo Massacre of 1819.

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The Peterloo Massacre
type: item
date: 2018-10-29T15:54:19.000Z
subject: Georgian
subject: Membership
subject: Period
description: Historian and author Jacqueline Riding discusses the tragic events of August 1819
encoded: Historian and author Jacqueline Riding discusses the tragic events of August 1819, where cavalry dispersed a large meeting for political reform in Manchester, leading to several deaths and hundreds of injuries. Jacqueline also consulted on the Peterloo film which is released in a few days’ time.

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16 August 1819: Militia massacres protesters at ‘Peterloo’
type: item
date: 2018-08-16T10:00:54.000Z
subject: Georgian
subject: Period
description: Dominic Sandbrook explores this big day in history
encoded: When the people of Manchester awoke on Monday, 16 August 1819, it was already shaping up to be a fine, hot day. By mid-morning thousands of people were streaming past the mills and chimneys towards St Peter’s Field in the town centre. To the watching townsfolk they presented an extraordinary spectacle. Each local village had sent its own contingent, but far from being the disorderly rabble of press hysteria, they seemed remarkably well turned out. Many were women, dressed all in white. And everywhere were flags and banners, woven in bright silk. “No Corn Laws”, they read, “Annual Parliaments”, “Universal Suffrage”, “Vote by Ballot”. The only banner that survives today was carried by Thomas Redford of Middleton. “Liberty and Fraternity” read the message on one side, picked out in gold letters. “Unity and Strength” it read on the other. Read more: Why were there so few casualties at Peterloo? 10 terrible taxes The Peterloo Massacre <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/7/2018/08/PJAN7M_cmyk-cdbc8d7-1-2c19180.jpg" width="413" height="413" alt="Cavalry charge into a crowd of protesters at St Peter's Field, Manchester, as depicted in an 1819 engraving. What followed was the worst violence ever to occur at a political meeting in Britain. (Picture by Alamy)" title="Cavalry charge into a crowd of protesters at St Peter's Field, Manchester, as depicted in an 1819 engraving. What followed was the worst violence ever to occur at a political meeting in Britain. (Picture by Alamy)" /> The passions behind the meeting at St Peter’s Field had been brewing for years. Poor economic conditions since the Napoleonic Wars had bred a mood of deep dissatisfaction in Lancashire’s cotton towns, and many weavers were outraged at their lack of representation in parliament. The question of democratic representation became a kind of shorthand for the plight of the region. In Manchester, wrote Joseph Johnson, the founder of the town’s radical Observer, “nothing but ru…

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Why were there so few casualties at Peterloo?
type: item
date: 2014-08-16T10:00:00.000Z
subject: Georgian
subject: Period
description: What became known as the Peterloo Massacre took place on St Peter's Field, Manchester, on 16 August 1819...
encoded: A public meeting had been called to demand political reform and was led by the famous radical speaker Henry Hunt. At 1pm the chief magistrate, William Hulton, sent for military assistance to arrest Hunt and break up the crowd of 80,000 people. The amateur Manchester and Salford Yeomanry arrived first, urged their horses into the crowd, and began hitting people with the flats of their blades. This provoked the crowd to throw stones, which in turn enraged the Yeomanry and at one point some of them began using the edges of their weapons. The Peterloo Massacre: what did it achieve? "Peterloo felt relevant, given all the crazy and chaotic things that are happening now": 5 minutes with Mike Leigh By the time the regulars of the 15th Hussars arrived at 2pm the situation was out of control. Led by Colonel L’Estrange they charged the crowd, but he soon realised that the exits from the field were so narrow that the crowd could not disperse. He called off his men and shouted at the Yeomanry: “For shame, for shame. The people cannot get away.” After 10 minutes the fighting had stopped, the crowd dispersed and Hunt had been arrested. Of the 11 dead, five died as a result of sabre wounds and the rest died due to being mown down by the horses. Most of the injuries were caused by people being crushed or trampled by the crowd as they tried to escape. The outrage at the time was due not only to the carnage and confusion, but also to the fact that Hulton had not given warning of his actions by reading the Riot Act. Listen | Historian and author Jacqueline Riding discusses the tragic events of the Peterloo Massacre The low number of deaths was probably due to the fact that L’Estrange called off his men and to the restraint shown by the 15th Hussars. This is ironic as the event was dubbed ‘Peterloo’ due to the fact that the 15th Hussars had fought at the battle of Waterloo just four years earlier. Answered by Rupert Matthews, historian and author. This Q&A was first published in the Jan…

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