A CROWD of nearly 200 people gathered to mark the 190th anniversary of the Peterloo Massacre - and to renew calls for a fitting memorial to those who died.
Fifteen people were killed and more than 600 were injured when cavalrymen charged a crowd at a protest rally in Manchester on August 16, 1819.
The bloodbath in St Peter's Fields became known as the Peterloo Massacre in an ironic reference to the Battle of Waterloo.
Young and old gathered on Sunday in tribute to the fallen protestors - some walking into the city along the same roads taken by the marchers 190 years ago.
Banners
The carried replica banners including one that said: "Equal Representation or Death." Paul Fitzgerald, one of the founding members of the Peterloo Memorial Campaign, said: "It's important to remember Peterloo because it was a pivotal point in the history of democracy - not just in Britain, but internationally as well.
"People showed such enormous courage turning up here, knowing there would be armed soldiers waiting for them and knowing the march had been banned. That needs to be remembered."
The Peterloo rally was attended by 60,000 people, many wearing their Sunday clothes, who expected the gathering to be peaceful. But magistrates feared it could result in a rebellion and ordered in the cavalry. The troops charged - trampling men, women and children with their horses and cutting down with their sabres any that got in the way.
Less than two per cent of the population had the vote at the time of the rally and hunger was rife, with the Corn Laws making bread unaffordable for many.
Those who gathered on Sunday, who included some who marched from Oldham, Middleton and Stockport, laid a wreath at the peace garden in St Peter's Square in memory of those who died. Manchester MP Tony Lloyd read out the names of the dead beforehand at a meeting near the Free Trade Hall, at the site of the massacre.
Poem
Councillor Jim Battle read a poem by Shelley which called on people to 'rise like lions after slumber'. Further memorial events were being held throughout the day.
Plans are underway to create a permanent memorial in St Peter's Square.
The anniversary was especially poignant for Ken Hulme, a Saddleworth parish councillor, who joined the crowds at the event. Some of his ancestors were among the protestors on that fateful day, but another of his forebears Colonel Joseph Hulme was in charge of the Manchester and Salford yeomanry. Ken, 59, said: "It's very important to remember what happened all those years ago. Peterloo is still relevant today."
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Joe Pub, Manchester (16/08/2009 at 15:43)
zoomer, The Moon (16/08/2009 at 17:11)
manchesterpaul, Manchester (16/08/2009 at 17:15)
A very nice touch today to read out the names of those slaughtered despite the passing of time.
Esso Blue., Manchester (16/08/2009 at 18:08)
Mr Manchester (16/08/2009 at 20:39)
I've seen the Manchester Man novel, but never read it. Will look to get a copy...
Real Manchester (17/08/2009 at 07:52)
Steve Parish (17/08/2009 at 08:14)
CorneredAllTheLuck, Tameside (17/08/2009 at 10:14)
Mad Welsh Scotsman, Cadishead (17/08/2009 at 12:28)
That bit of fluff, under the sofa (17/08/2009 at 13:00)
jcmanc, south manchester (17/08/2009 at 13:58)
The class divide is still alive and kicking,one day we again will march and protest like our fellow mancs did back on that faithful day.
long live free speech
david duck (17/08/2009 at 14:40)
That bit of fluff, under the sofa (17/08/2009 at 14:52)
"A memorial is long overdue. The class divide is still alive and kicking,one day we again will march and protest like our fellow mancs did back on that faithful day. long live free speech"
Did you mean fateful?
That bit of fluff, under the sofa (17/08/2009 at 15:14)
Thanks to the Labour Party!
Esso Blue., Manchester (17/08/2009 at 15:18)
You come accross as the type that would sell your granny down the river.
Esso Blue., Manchester (17/08/2009 at 15:53)
That bit of fluff, under the sofa
17/08/2009 at 13:00
Three of them left wing hooligans were special constables. one was a two year old hooligan who was killed. One was a soldier who thought at the battle of waterloo. Four women murdered.
The real hooligans are the ancestors of the same people who cracked the whip then. They are the people who nicked land off everyone and have everyone corralled like lambs and then you have the jokers who are cowards who come up with silly excuses to defend them. Bullying in numbers and are cowards when the other-side has more power.
John Ashton, Sabred and trampled on by crowd, Carried the black flag of the Saddleworth, Lees and Mossley Union, inscribed "Taxation without representation is unjust and tyrannical. NO CORN LAWS". The inquest jury returned a verdict of accidental death. His son, Samuel, received 20 shillings in relief.
John Ashworth, Sabred and trampled,Ashworth was a Special Constable presumably attacked unintentionally by the cavalry.
William Bradshaw, Shot by musket.
Thomas Buckley, Sabred and stabbed by bayonet
Robert Campbell, Killed by a mob in Newton Lane.Campbell was a Special Constable
James Crompton, Trampled on by the cavalry. Buried 1 September.
Edmund Dawson, Died of sabre wounds at the Manchester Royal Infirmary.
William Dawson, Sabred, crushed and killed on the spot.
Margaret Downes, Sabred
William Evans, Trampled by cavalry, Evans was a Special Constable
William Fildes, Ridden over by cavalry, Two years old, he was first victim of the massacre. His mother was carrying him across the road when she was struck by a trooper of the Manchester Yeomanry, galloping towards St Peters Field.
Mary Heys, Ridden over by cavalry, Mother of six children, and pregnant at the time of the meeting. Disabled and suffering from almost daily fits following her injuries, the premature birth of her seven-month-old child resulted in her death.
Sarah Jones, No cause given by Marlow but listed as "bruised in the head" by Frow. Mother of seven children. Beaten on the head by a Special Constable's truncheon.
John Lees, Lees was an ex-soldier who had fought in the Battle of Waterloo
Arthur Neil, Inwardly crushed
Martha Partington, Thrown into a cellar and killed on the spot.
John Rhodes, Sabre wound to the head. Rhodes's body was dissected by order of magistrates wishing to prove his death was not a result of Peterloo. The coroner's inquest found that he had died from natural causes.
Joshua Whitworth, Shot at New Cross.
Andanotherthing, Mcr (17/08/2009 at 16:04)
Breathe Esso, Breathe.
That bit of fluff, under the sofa (17/08/2009 at 16:25)
"One was a soldier who thought at the battle of waterloo". Says it all.
That bit of fluff, under the sofa (17/08/2009 at 16:27)
citycentre, manchester (17/08/2009 at 17:01)
Or you could consider that the demonstration was largely focused on the corn laws, an anti trade measure which artifically increased the price of food. The Anti Corn Law league (earlier Association) was largley made up of free trade proponents and Manchester businessmen (who resented the fact that protectionist laws made trade harder, for the benefit of the landed classes).
Ultimatly thier abolition led to the demise of the old Tories and split to form the Liberal and Conservative parties, rather than having anything to do with Labour.
Indeed Marx was actually opposed to their aims, thinking that the abolition of these laws was a ruse by indutrialists to lower workers wages.
Still don't let history
david duck (17/08/2009 at 17:12)
Andanotherthing, Mcr (17/08/2009 at 19:17)
Esso
"One was a soldier who thought at the battle of waterloo". Says it all.
That bit of fluff, under the sofa
I expext it does to you Fluffy. Back under the coutch where you belong.
Esso Blue., Manchester (17/08/2009 at 20:03)
That bit of fluff, under the sofa (18/08/2009 at 08:05)
Again, says it all. Very amusing.
Mr Angry, Bury (18/08/2009 at 11:00)
Esso Blue and david duck, just ignore him/her, its not worth the effort of reasoning or arguing with people like this.
bit of fluff, just go off and read your Sun/Daily Mail/Express