Subject Index: Riots & Disturbances

Small scale uprisings. Also see Revolution & Rebellion for larger scale affairs.

The Tewkesbury Bread Riot Of 1795

Type:
By Derek Benson,
The winter of 1794-95 was severe throughout the land; the rivers Severn and Thames froze over and a temperature of minus 21c. was recorded in London. In Tewkesbury, the freeze began on 20 December 1794 and continued until 7 February 1795. More →

The Origins and an Account of Black Friday - 23rd December 1892

Type: Pamphlet
By Roger Ball,
24-Black-Friday-front
Autumn 1892 in Bristol saw a violent class war between employers, strike-breaking labour and police on one side and strikers and their mass of working class supporters on the other. Picketing, mass marches and public meetings of thousands of ‘new’ industrial unionists were common, culminating in the use of military and police by the local... More →

Bold Defiance

Type:
By Alex (Past Tense),
Pretty much everyone has heard of the Luddites, although many people still have a misconception about the reasons why they destroyed machinery. The weavers of Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Lancashire and Leicestershire smashed machine looms not because they were blindly opposed to progress, or afraid of new technology, but because the introduction of machinery was undermining the livelihoods of themselves and their communities. More →

Black Friday And The Dockers' Strikes Of 1892-3

Type:
The Great Strike
These pictures were found in Bristol Central Reference Library and they should be consulted if you wish to reproduce them (refandinfo@bristol.gov.uk). The dispute opened on 5 November 1892, when Bristol timber merchants hired non-union labourers to work alongside Dockers' Union members. This was viewed by the men as the thin end of a wedge; if the... More →

'The Short Hot Summer': The August Riots in the UK, 2011

Type: Event
Date:
misc-poster-2012
The August ‘riots’ in Britain last summer were portrayed by the media and politicians as the actions of ‘greedy feral youth’ or ‘gangs’ within a ‘criminal underclass’. Most of these politically loaded explanations were presented before what had happened was even known. More →

Old Market Riot Map

Type:
1. Union Street: Location of police baton charge on Welsh Hunger marchers and their Bristolian supporters on evening of September 7th 1931. 2. Old Market Street/Carey’s Lane: Site of police cordon diverting NUWM from marching to the Council House on February 9th 1932. Followed by police baton charge. 3. The Haymarket: Known these days as the Horsefair this park was a regular assembly point for NUWM marches. Scene of disturbance on the evening of February 9th 1932. 4. Castle Street/Old Market Street: Site of the police cordon and flashpoint on NUWM demonstration February 23rd 1932. 5. Empire Cinema, Carey’s Lane: Ambush from behind on NUWM marchers by police secreted in the annex on February 23rd 1932. 6. Old Market Street: Police baton charge on NUWM marchers on afternoon of February 23rd 1932 immortalised in the photograph on the front cover of this pamphlet. 7. Lawfords Gate: Centre of serious ‘rioting’ on afternoon of February 23rd 1932 which spread into St. Judes and St. Phillips. 8. Welsh Back: The NUWM held many evening rallies here including February 23rd 1932. 9. Bridge Street: Stampede by hundreds of Bristolians supporting the NUWM marchers on evening of February 23rd 1932. 10. Castle Street: Major shopping street, scene of disturbance on the evening of February 23rd 1932 and location of the police ambush on east Bristol NUWM demonstrators returning home on the night of June 9th 1932 (70 injured). 11. Peter Street: Site of the Public Assistance Committee Office, scene of many NUWM pickets and demonstrations. 12. Marybush Lane: The NUWM held their weekly meetings in the School Room. 13. Corn Street: Location of the City Council building. 14. The Ropewalk: Common meeting point for NUWM demonstrations. 15. Central Police Station, Bridewell. 16. West Street: The NUWM office was at No. 78.
1. Union Street: Location of police baton charge on Welsh Hunger marchers and their Bristolian supporters on evening of September 7th 1931. 2. Old Market Street/Carey’s Lane: Site of police cordon diverting NUWM from marching to the Council House on February 9th 1932. Followed by police baton charge. 3. The Haymarket: Known these days as the... More →

Breviary Stuff Publications

Type: Radical History Listing
Breviary Stuff Publications is concerned with ‘history from below’, the history of ordinary people and our perpetual struggles for some fairness and freedom from the oppression that we have been and are forced to endure in our daily lives. We are not concerned with the history of ‘great men‘, the wealthy, the powerful, the famous. We are... More →