Tiverton riots

The Tiverton riots refers to riots which broke out in Tiverton, Devon in May 1738 and again in 1749.

Labourers employed in woollen manufacture rioted in May 1738, in protest at a publican's undercutting of prices for serge. The publican, Grimes, bought serges which had been returned from the merchants to the serge makers, and resold them to the same merchants at a lower price. This practice, which the merchants encouraged in order to increase their profit, was thought to be very unfair towards the manufacturers.^[1]

The labourers assembled in Tiverton, and were joined by those of Uffculme, Bampton, Silverton, Collumpton, Bradninch and Culmstock.^[1] They attacked Grimes' house, the Red Lion Inn in Gold Street and broke into it. Having found a great number of serges, they threw them out and dragged them through the streets, hanged some upon his sign post and tore others in pieces. Grimes was found in the oven of a bake house, at the bottom of Poundhill, a few doors below his house. The rioters sat him astride a staff borne on their shoulders. They carried him through the streets and at last set him down before the house of the Mayor, Robert Dunsford, in St. Peter's Street.^[1] The mayor had him taken away. A great number of constables were sworn in to resist the rioters, many of whom were taken and put into prison for a few hours only. This much enraged the rest and occasioned a great battle between them and the constables, before whom the rioters retreated to the top of Exeter Hill, a short distance from the town. Another skirmish took place there, when one man was killed and many were wounded, which put an end to the riot. ^[1]

En la década de 1740, las dificultades con el comercio de la lana llevaron a otro estallido de disturbios en 1749. Los obreros se reunieron para atacar la casa de Thomas Beedle, quien fue acusado de actuar como lo había hecho Grimes. ^{[ 1 ]} Se reunieron en el patio del castillo, bebieron un barril de sidra y se dirigieron a la casa de Beedle, al final de Waterlane. Los alborotadores permanecieron dentro y alrededor de la casa durante cinco horas, destrozando sus pertenencias, arrastrando sus cadenas de lana y estambre por las calles, y dejando que su cerveza corriera por la casa hasta más de los tobillos. Vaciaron su casa por completo y la habrían quemado de no ser por la presencia de su hijo acostado en una cuna. Al no encontrar a Beedle (quien estaba escondido en la posada Crown and Comb, al otro lado de la calle), los alborotadores capturaron a Moses Quick, uno de sus cardadores de lana. ^{[ 1 ]} Quick fue colocado a horcajadas sobre un bastón y llevado por el pueblo. Fue arrastrado a través de varios charcos y el canal del molino. Los alborotadores intentaron romperle los pulgares para impedirle peinarse, y finalmente lo llevaron a su club; después de reanimarlo con licor, lo enviaron a casa casi muerto y luego se retiraron a sus respectivas viviendas. ^{[ 1 ]}

Este artículo incorpora texto de esta fuente, que es de dominio público : Memorias históricas de la ciudad y la parroquia de Tiverton, de Martin Dunsford (1836).