Heartland
master brummie
Riots are part of the present as well as the past. In April & May 1822 the colliers at Bilston, Wednesbury and Wolverhampton were part of of group who protested against the drop in their wages. This was a period when trade was in a depression period. Bankruptcies for iron and coal masters were increasingly becoming a common occurrence. General provisions had become cheaper after the ending of the war with the French and the mine owners saw this factor as a reason to reduce wages. This was also the time when colliers were often paid in provisions and beer at the Truck Shop.
With the maintenance of order troops of cavalry and yeomany were called on to keep the peace and some of the local soldiers employed in the West Midlands still comprised an element of the battle hardened troops that fought in the Battle of Waterloo.
There was a flare up of violence on the outskirts of Wolverhampton, near Monmore Green, where William Firmstone was attacked by colliers who threw stones at him in May 1822. He called for assistance and various troop arrived in the area to maintain order. Some rioters were arrested at the time, whilst others were detained later at their homes in Ettingshall Lane. This lane linked two turnpikes and was also known as Hell Lane,
All were taken before the Assizes at Stafford in July and the punishment ranged from 3 months to a year in prison. The ring leaders all received the longer term.
The prisoners who attacked Firmstone, did so at the turnpike gate. Their names were given as William Roe, Richard Preston, Benjamin Walker, Richmond Powell and Richard Brisbane. There was also Abraham Harris, Backhouse, Davis and Cooper named and of all these named Benjamin Walker and Abraham Harris were said to be the most active.
In addition to stone throwing, the rioters were charged with attacking a banksman and the crew of a couple of canal boats.
At the trial all were said to be of good character and perhaps pleas by the defence council affected the sentence.
There is the question to be resolved on what happened to those imprisoned and why some adopted the more active role
With the maintenance of order troops of cavalry and yeomany were called on to keep the peace and some of the local soldiers employed in the West Midlands still comprised an element of the battle hardened troops that fought in the Battle of Waterloo.
There was a flare up of violence on the outskirts of Wolverhampton, near Monmore Green, where William Firmstone was attacked by colliers who threw stones at him in May 1822. He called for assistance and various troop arrived in the area to maintain order. Some rioters were arrested at the time, whilst others were detained later at their homes in Ettingshall Lane. This lane linked two turnpikes and was also known as Hell Lane,
All were taken before the Assizes at Stafford in July and the punishment ranged from 3 months to a year in prison. The ring leaders all received the longer term.
The prisoners who attacked Firmstone, did so at the turnpike gate. Their names were given as William Roe, Richard Preston, Benjamin Walker, Richmond Powell and Richard Brisbane. There was also Abraham Harris, Backhouse, Davis and Cooper named and of all these named Benjamin Walker and Abraham Harris were said to be the most active.
In addition to stone throwing, the rioters were charged with attacking a banksman and the crew of a couple of canal boats.
At the trial all were said to be of good character and perhaps pleas by the defence council affected the sentence.
There is the question to be resolved on what happened to those imprisoned and why some adopted the more active role