The Nineteenth Century Agricultural Riots

The Nineteenth Century Agricultural Riots

Rural poverty worsened after the Napoleonic War and unemployment increased with the return of war servicemen, the introduction of labour-saving machines and the effects of enclosures. Consequently, a cold winter in 1829 and a poor harvest in 1830, brought about social unrest. So political activists, like William Cobbett, took the opportunity to preach revolt, which contributed to uprisings of agricultural workers.

Serious unrest started in Kent and spread into Berkshire, Hampshire and Wiltshire occasioned by burning farm buildings and ricks, breaking up threshing machines, etc.  Most likely to revolt were young men doing menial work such as farm labouring and shepherding. The troubles also included letters often signed by Captain Swing, a mythical figure, and are thought to have been written by radical agitators. As a fictional leader, Swing(threshing machines were taking away work from labourers who used to swing a flail) soon achieved folk-hero status amongst the labourers.

On 23rd November, 1830, Sir Claudius Hunter, a magistrate of Basingstoke reported to the Duke, “It was reported that meetings were assembling so I met Captain Astell at the Furze Bush Inn, Aldermaston (later the Falcon) with 50 Grenadiers and proceeded to the New Inn (now the Badgers Wood) at Baughurst where they met a party of 40 men well-armed with heavy sticks who promised to depart, but 100 or more were hard at work levying money about Sherborne, and Ewhurst and destroying every thrashing machine in the neighbourhood. The rioters were last heard of being assembled at the White Lion Public House (now Hollybush Farm) close to your Grace’s gate at Ewhurst.  We approached the White Lion, and we got possession of about 80 with their implements of destruction and booty; one man had more than £14 about him in gold and silver. We marched to Basingstoke with 57 of the worst rioters.”

The Duke reported this to Viscount Melbourne, Secretary of State for Home Affairs, saying, “….since my arrival at Stratfield Saye, I have received the report of a very successful affair in a very lawless part of the country between this and Kingsclere. I hope that this affair will have entirely put an end to disturbance in this part of the county.”

At Winchester, 285 men were accused of extorting money, breaking machinery, sending threatening letters, etc. Many of these offences carried the death penalty and 101 were so sentenced although in the end, probably because of public petitions, only 6 were executed, 69 were transported, 68 imprisoned, 2 fined and 96 acquitted or bound over. These sentences, although seeming severe by today’s standards, were not unusual as they followed the usual pattern of the time

Looking back on these events, none of the real ringleaders were identified and the uprisings achieved very little for the labourers, but Landlords were shaken by the strength of feelings.