Peterloo is a horrific stain on British history and a
landmark moment. On 16 August, 1819, 60,000 people marched to St Peter’s Field
in Manchester to peacefully demand the right to vote, freedom from oppression
and political justice. A day of hope ended with troops, including local
government forces, charging the crowds, leaving 18 dead or dying and hundreds
injured.
It became known as the Peterloo Massacre and was a turning point on
the road to democracy, equal rights and universal suffrage.
As we mark 200 years on, many characters have emerged,
none more so than John Knight, a Mossley-born cotton manufacturer who was on
the hustings that fateful day. The radical reformer’s place in British social
history has largely been overlooked, but his work fighting for universal
suffrage is now being recognised.
Mossley Writers have painstakingly researched
the local hero’s past and used their imagination and skills to bring his story
to life.
On this blog is a selection of tales and poems from an
array of viewpoints that capture John Knight’s character and cause – from his
supportive wife to his tragic children and those that marched alongside him. We
even have Mary Fildes, who survived serious wounds to become involved in the
Chartist movement, and the great man himself looking back on his life. It all
features in an impressive collection that both enthrals and educates.
Richard Hooton, July 2019
Please note: all images, apart from original artwork by Mossley Writers, have been kindly made available by Manchester Histories and the Peterloo1819 project. Check out their websites for more information about Peterloo, commemorative activities in Manchester throughout 2019 and other resources.
Please note: all images, apart from original artwork by Mossley Writers, have been kindly made available by Manchester Histories and the Peterloo1819 project. Check out their websites for more information about Peterloo, commemorative activities in Manchester throughout 2019 and other resources.
