Back to 200 years ago, as I’ve been neglecting this series of posts….
This is an article about the “State of the City” from the Norwich Mercury from February 1825, which I’ve pasted below. It shows just how tense matters were in the city, as the weavers in Norwich were upset by work being sent out to countryside where they suspected it was being completed for lower wages.
The manufacturer on Elm Hill found that their stock was destroyed, their premises smashed up and the rioters then ran amok damaging other locations in the city. The authorities acted in a robust manner to try and take back control, but manufacturers also decided to make a promise not to send any more work outside the city to try and calm the situation.
The magistrates took action anyway, they didn’t want a repeat of such occurrences in the city and they promised to take the firmest action possible against the rioters. And they were right to be concerned, the weaving trade was in a state of continued decline in Norwich and ultimately much work ended up being shipped out to Yorkshire in the 1830s. The 12,000 or so looms in Norwich in 1800 fell to under half that level by 1830, it was the beginning of the end of the trade that had led to so much wealth in the city.
“During the last few years, while the manufactures of the city have been in great and constantly increasing demand, the masters have been necessitated, notwithstanding the vast emigrations that have taken place from the country to the city, to send a large quantity of work into the country, where it has been manufactured. Great jealousy has existed for some time past between the city and country weavers, not only on this account, but because it was generally reported and as generally believed, that the wages were much less. The almost entire want of employment pervading the weaving population has turned the attention of the weavers to this point. The consequence has been, that on Tuesday evening about seven o’clock, having some suspicion, from seeing the Forncett carrier’s cart standing against the warehouse of Mr. Wright, a manufacturer, on Elm-hill, that he was about to send some work off to the country, the carrier was watched and seen to enter the warehouse with goods, but on his coming out, it was discovered that he was about to carry away a quantity of work. The weavers, who were assembled in a large body near the spot, drove away the cart, and after taking out the horse, completely destroyed it. They then as directly broke the windows in Mr. Wright’s factory.
Almost at the termination of these proceedings, Mr. Ald. Francis (the Deputy Mayor), Sheriff Brooks, J. J. Gurney, Esq. and several other gentlemen, came down to the spot, when Mr. Francis addressed the persons assembled, saying that every thing should be done for the purpose of relieving them, and requested their immediate and peaceable return to their homes. This address was received by them with loud shouts, and they quietly dispersed. On Wednesday morning a large body of weavers proceeded to almost all the public-houses from whence the carriers set out, and searched the carts. Some materials for work were found, and directly deposited in the Sword-bearer’s office, in the Hall—but we have not heard of any damage having been sustained either by carriers or innkeepers. The principal part of the day was thus passed, until between six and seven o’clock, when a large body of men came from Eaton, near this city, where they had seized some yarn. This they carried to the Hall, from whence they proceeded to Messrs. Willett’s factory, in Pottergate-street, where (these gentlemen being suspected of sending work out of the city) they demolished not only the windows, but the frames of the lower rooms.
Messrs. Bullamore and Hawkins’ warehouse, in Magdalen-street, Messrs. Bolingbroke’s, Brownfield’s, Willement’s, Herring’s, and several other houses, were visited, at each of which the proprietors were called for and questioned, both as to the quantity of work each had in the country, and as to whether they intended to send any more into the country while the citizens were unemployed. Answers to these questions having been satisfactorily given, no violence was offered. Mr. Purdy’s warehouse, in Peacock-street, was also very seriously damaged.
After the populace had been to the warehouses of the gentlemen we have mentioned, they proceeded to Mr. A. Beloe’s factory, St. John’s Timberhill, where, unfortunately Mr. Beloe being absent in London, and no person being present to address them, they immediately broke nearly all the windows of this extensive building, which is four stories high. The Deputy Mayor came about this time to the scene of tumult, where he immediately read the Riot Act. The market place then became thronged with people, where the Riot Act was again read by Mr. Francis, and a number of special constables sworn on. It was then deemed necessary to send to the barracks for the Scots Greys. Col. J. Harvey addressed the persons assembled upon the impropriety of their conduct, both at Mr. Beloe’s, in the Market, and on the Castle Ditches, and recommended their immediate return to their homes. At the Hall great discussion among the Magistrates took place upon the propriety of the Dragoons being sent for; fortunately there was no necessity to employ them. A party of special constables were sent to each of the manufactories, and the rest of the night was passed in quietude.
In the early part of the day, while very many weavers were assembled in the Market-place, they were addressed by Mr. Alderman Francis, who promised that he would call a meeting of the manufacturers, and urge the necessity of their not sending any more work out of the city while it was in its present state. Pursuant to this promise, many of the principal manufacturers met at the Hall—J. Harvey, Esq. the High Sheriff, (the chairman of the committee of manufacturers in this city) in the chair, and it was unanimously agreed that they would send no more work out of the city, and a paper was sent round for the signature of such manufacturers as were not present. After this was agreed upon, a deputation of the weavers were called in and acquainted with the fact.
The city on Thursday morning exhibited an unsettled and stormy appearance, and in the streets during the whole day were to be seen numbers of idle hands. In the morning the magistrates sent officers to summon every respectable inhabitant to the Hall for the purpose of swearing them on as special constables. A very large number were sworn in during the afternoon, and at half-past five they assembled, in case any fresh disturbance should take place. About four o’clock a part of Colonel Harvey’s Yeomanry Cavalry marched up to the Hall, where they received orders to proceed to Mulbarton, and put themselves under the direction of Dr. Beevor, the magistrate at that place, as it was surmised by the magistrates that Mr. Beloe’s factory there might be attempted. Shortly afterwards the Mayor issued the following bill:
Twenty Guineas Reward.—At a meeting of the Magistrates for the city and county of Norwich, held at the Guildhall on the 2d of February, 1826— It was unanimously resolved and ordered, that the most effectual measures should be adopted for the prevention of a repetition of the riots and tumults which have taken place in this city—and that all persons concerned in any acts of outrage and violence which have been or may be committed shall be prosecuted with the utmost rigour of the law, and that a reward of twenty guineas shall be given for the apprehension of any person who committed or assisted in any of those acts, to be paid by the High Constable on conviction.
By order of the Magistrates,
DE HAGUE, Clerk of the Peace.
During the whole of the day the Magistrates were in deliberation, and their measures appear to have had the desired effect of stopping these dangerous proceedings. Although there were an immense number of persons parading the town during the greater part of the evening, yet no great bodies were congregated, and the small parties that were now and then gathered together were occasioned by the hallooing and huzzaing of a number of boys, whose delight was to hoax and frighten the peaceable and orderly. Throughout the evening we observed, that almost all the persons who were abroad consisted of youths, boys, and girls; the latter we should be inclined to think almost as numerous as the former. We were happy to see of what class the persons walking about were composed, because it only proved that however to be lamented the sufferings they were undergoing, by far the greater and better portion of the workmen did not conceive themselves justified in taking the redress into their own hands.
Two or three manufacturers issued bills, stating they would send no more work into the country until all the citizens were employed.”