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| Spies, lies and fake news - England's 'last revolution' | Spies, lies and fake news - England's 'last revolution' |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Two hundred years ago the Pentrich Uprising - the last attempt at armed revolution in England - saw government agents and a rigged trial used to demonise radicals, but also helped change how Britain was run. | Two hundred years ago the Pentrich Uprising - the last attempt at armed revolution in England - saw government agents and a rigged trial used to demonise radicals, but also helped change how Britain was run. |
| The three "traitors" were to be shown mercy - their bodies would not be quartered after hanging and beheading. | The three "traitors" were to be shown mercy - their bodies would not be quartered after hanging and beheading. |
| But as the crowds watched them die outside Derby prison, the storm of protest about their cause, crimes and fate had already begun. | But as the crowds watched them die outside Derby prison, the storm of protest about their cause, crimes and fate had already begun. |
| The year of 1817 was a particularly bad time to be poor. | The year of 1817 was a particularly bad time to be poor. |
| The economy was in a slump, laws kept the landowners rich and the previous "year without summer" had left workers' families hungry and diseased. | The economy was in a slump, laws kept the landowners rich and the previous "year without summer" had left workers' families hungry and diseased. |
| Political reform and the rights of common people were fiercely debated but Lord Liverpool's Tory government - under the dissolute Prince Regent, George - met calls for change with prison, execution or transportation to the colonies. | Political reform and the rights of common people were fiercely debated but Lord Liverpool's Tory government - under the dissolute Prince Regent, George - met calls for change with prison, execution or transportation to the colonies. |
| Dr Cath Feely, from the University of Derby, said: "These are people who had no control over their lives, either nationally or locally, politically or financially. | Dr Cath Feely, from the University of Derby, said: "These are people who had no control over their lives, either nationally or locally, politically or financially. |
| "They faced a double whammy that the old aristocracy owned their homes, while the new industrial class owned their livelihoods. | "They faced a double whammy that the old aristocracy owned their homes, while the new industrial class owned their livelihoods. |
| "And with no welfare safety net, a bad harvest was a matter of life and death." | "And with no welfare safety net, a bad harvest was a matter of life and death." |
| A network of informers left over from the Napoleonic wars now worked against political groups - some peaceful, some not - creating an atmosphere of insecurity and paranoia. | A network of informers left over from the Napoleonic wars now worked against political groups - some peaceful, some not - creating an atmosphere of insecurity and paranoia. |
| Votes and violence | Votes and violence |
| Britain simmered with discontent in the early years of the 19th Century and demands for greater rights led to disputes, destruction and death. | |
| Hampden Clubs, named after a leader in the English Civil War, began in 1812 and attracted radical debate but were seen by the authorities as a cover for revolution. | Hampden Clubs, named after a leader in the English Civil War, began in 1812 and attracted radical debate but were seen by the authorities as a cover for revolution. |
| Disorder and protests like the Spa Fields riots of 1816 and the Blanketeers of 1817 led to the suspension of basic civil rights, such as Habeas Corpus. | |
| The most high profile group was the Luddites, named after the mythical Ned Ludd, who from 1811 to 1816 smashed the cloth-making machinery they felt was being used to drive down craftsmen's wages. | The most high profile group was the Luddites, named after the mythical Ned Ludd, who from 1811 to 1816 smashed the cloth-making machinery they felt was being used to drive down craftsmen's wages. |
| The establishment was shaken - at one point more troops were deployed to deal with Luddites than Wellington had to fight Napoleon. | The establishment was shaken - at one point more troops were deployed to deal with Luddites than Wellington had to fight Napoleon. |
| Repression turned to murder in 1819 when cavalry rode down a peaceful reform meeting in Manchester, killing 18, in what became known as the Peterloo Massacre. | Repression turned to murder in 1819 when cavalry rode down a peaceful reform meeting in Manchester, killing 18, in what became known as the Peterloo Massacre. |
| A plan to murder the prime minister and his cabinet in 1820, the Cato Street Conspiracy, led to the execution of five men. | |
| One of these informers, William J Richards - known as Oliver - became the catalyst for events. | One of these informers, William J Richards - known as Oliver - became the catalyst for events. |
| Pentrich historian Sylvia Mason said: "Oliver was pulled out of debtors' prison on the proviso he would spy for the government. | Pentrich historian Sylvia Mason said: "Oliver was pulled out of debtors' prison on the proviso he would spy for the government. |
| "He was paid on results, so he created those results." | "He was paid on results, so he created those results." |
| In early 1817 in Derbyshire he met political firebrands Thomas Bacon and Jeremiah Brandreth. Despite objections, Oliver persuaded them "half the country" was ready to rise. | In early 1817 in Derbyshire he met political firebrands Thomas Bacon and Jeremiah Brandreth. Despite objections, Oliver persuaded them "half the country" was ready to rise. |
| Brandreth held meetings in a Pentrich inn, calling for a march on Nottingham, insisting they would be paid and fed. | Brandreth held meetings in a Pentrich inn, calling for a march on Nottingham, insisting they would be paid and fed. |
| All the while Oliver kept the authorities informed. | All the while Oliver kept the authorities informed. |
| Ms Mason said: "The government as good as organised it - they named the day in documents and showed they were planning it from 1815. | Ms Mason said: "The government as good as organised it - they named the day in documents and showed they were planning it from 1815. |
| "They were afraid a real uprising was coming so they allowed the Pentrich men to march so they could be arrested as used as scapegoats." | "They were afraid a real uprising was coming so they allowed the Pentrich men to march so they could be arrested as used as scapegoats." |
| On 9 June, up to 400 rebels armed with farming tools and old hunting guns set off for nearby Ripley. | On 9 June, up to 400 rebels armed with farming tools and old hunting guns set off for nearby Ripley. |
| The weather was foul and Brandreth led them in songs to raise their spirits; "The time is come you plainly see, the government opposed must be." | The weather was foul and Brandreth led them in songs to raise their spirits; "The time is come you plainly see, the government opposed must be." |
| Dr Feely said: "Their demands were vague; a cancellation of the national debt, some calls for a provisional government. | Dr Feely said: "Their demands were vague; a cancellation of the national debt, some calls for a provisional government. |
| "But most were focused on fairer wages and protection for their livelihoods." | "But most were focused on fairer wages and protection for their livelihoods." |
| Demands for food and drink led to fights and at one house a servant was shot and killed, apparently by accident. | |
| They slogged on through the day and overnight but the death, the weather, the lukewarm public reaction and the failure to seize new weapons in Ripley saw numbers dwindle. | They slogged on through the day and overnight but the death, the weather, the lukewarm public reaction and the failure to seize new weapons in Ripley saw numbers dwindle. |
| As the remaining men approached Eastwood on the outskirts of Nottingham on the morning of 10 June, two magistrates, accompanied by soldiers, blocked the way. | As the remaining men approached Eastwood on the outskirts of Nottingham on the morning of 10 June, two magistrates, accompanied by soldiers, blocked the way. |
| Without a shot being fired, the marchers fled. Despite this, some newspapers reported hundreds of well armed men on the rampage. | Without a shot being fired, the marchers fled. Despite this, some newspapers reported hundreds of well armed men on the rampage. |
| Retribution was well planned. Dozens were imprisoned, the ringleaders found over the coming months. | Retribution was well planned. Dozens were imprisoned, the ringleaders found over the coming months. |
| The trial that followed was, according to many, deeply flawed. The main jury was made up of landowners and factory bosses, who would feel most threatened by the marchers. | The trial that followed was, according to many, deeply flawed. The main jury was made up of landowners and factory bosses, who would feel most threatened by the marchers. |
| Oliver, already unmasked and widely criticised, was kept hidden away. | Oliver, already unmasked and widely criticised, was kept hidden away. |
| Bacon's guilty plea - in return for no death penalty - meant no trial, which further hid the agent's role. | Bacon's guilty plea - in return for no death penalty - meant no trial, which further hid the agent's role. |
| Brandreth, Turner and Ludlum were sentenced to their grisly fates. Six thousand people, guarded by troops with drawn swords, watched. | Brandreth, Turner and Ludlum were sentenced to their grisly fates. Six thousand people, guarded by troops with drawn swords, watched. |
| Turner's last words were: "This is all old Oliver and the government." | Turner's last words were: "This is all old Oliver and the government." |
| After being hanged until they were dead, the men were beheaded with an axe, thus achieving the highly dubious distinction of being the last to suffer this punishment in England. | After being hanged until they were dead, the men were beheaded with an axe, thus achieving the highly dubious distinction of being the last to suffer this punishment in England. |
| Fourteen others were deported to Australia and six jailed in England but dozens were released on bail. | Fourteen others were deported to Australia and six jailed in England but dozens were released on bail. |
| Dr Feely said: "The authorities knew it was coming and saw it as an opportunity to make an example of such people - hence the harsh sentences. | Dr Feely said: "The authorities knew it was coming and saw it as an opportunity to make an example of such people - hence the harsh sentences. |
| "But the executions, and the scandal of Oliver's role, provoked huge debate and were used by the opposition Whig party to call for change. | "But the executions, and the scandal of Oliver's role, provoked huge debate and were used by the opposition Whig party to call for change. |
| "Pentrich highlighted the repressive nature of government and the need for reformers to work together." | "Pentrich highlighted the repressive nature of government and the need for reformers to work together." |
| Oliver left for South Africa, never to return. | Oliver left for South Africa, never to return. |
| A Reform Act, which abolished corrupt constituencies, gave MPs to industrial cities and expanded who could vote, was passed in 1832. Two years later all the Pentrich marchers were pardoned. | A Reform Act, which abolished corrupt constituencies, gave MPs to industrial cities and expanded who could vote, was passed in 1832. Two years later all the Pentrich marchers were pardoned. |
| Ms Mason said: "This is one of the stepping stones to use getting votes, both for men and women, for equal right and trade unions. | Ms Mason said: "This is one of the stepping stones to use getting votes, both for men and women, for equal right and trade unions. |
| "This helped get rights for the working class, for the most oppressed." | "This helped get rights for the working class, for the most oppressed." |