Talk: Riot and Rebellion! The Power Loom Riots

In April 1826 a group of 1,000 angry handloom weavers began attacking the looms and mills of East Lancashire.  Find out more about the Power Loom Riots in this talk marking the bicentennial year.  

In April 1826 a group of 1,000 angry handloom weavers began attacking the looms and mills of East Lancashire.  Unemployment, poverty and bad harvest had led to despair and over 1,100 looms were attacked in four days.  So, what was the official response to the Power Loom Riots?  What happened to those tried for the riots at Lancaster?  And how guilty were they?  Dr Colin Penny shares the story of the Power Loom Riots, in the bicentenary year since this took place.

You can also buy a copy of Riot! The Story of the East Lancashire Loom Breakers in 1826 by William Turner in the shop, for £5.00, one of the few books to cover the events in detail.

The image depicting the power loom riots is called The Story of Whiteheads by James Spencer circa 1930s, courtesy of The Whitaker Museum & Art Gallery, Lancashire.  This event is in Servant's Hall in the basement, down one flight of stairs inside or flat access from outside.

Gawthorpe Hall is part of Lancashire County Museum Service and Lancashire County Council's Cultural Services.