Coventry Society historian, Peter James, tells us the story of the Luddites in Coventry and what became of some of them. Peter writes…
The Luddite movement began in Nottingham around 1811. The Luddites were followers of a weaver named Ned Ludd. They were people opposed to the introduction of automation and mechanisation into the weaving process and often used violence and intimidation to achieve their aims which sometimes resorted in smashing machinery.
1n 1829 Nuneaton workers in one weaving factory dragged Mr. Taylor a foreman from his workplace, saddled him on a donkey and pelted him with filth and rubbish. Coventry had similar problems where Josiah Beck had a silk weaving business in St. Agnes Lane. He had adapted his looms to run from steam power. An angry mob invaded his factory broke his looms and set fire to his facility. He was beaten and manhandled but managed to escape with minor injuries and no broken bones.
This is an account from 7th November 1831:
“A riot of considerable magnitude took place and the rioters not only attacked a house in the occupation of Mr. Josiah Beck, a manufacturer of looms for the weaving of ribbons, but destroyed all the looms and machinery in it, and then set fire to the house, which was burned to the ground in the parish of Holy Trinity”
The Coventry Herald reported on the 12th November 1831 that on the day of the riot “By 12 o’clock at night all was quiet and has since continued so. As a precautionary measure, the military and special constables patrolled during the night. – Five men have been taken into custody. They have also severally undergone examinations and been remanded.”
Many people involved were arrested but were eventually released due to lack of evidence but four were detained. They were Thomas Burbury, Alfred Toogood, John Deeming and Benjamin Sparkes. The men were sent for trial where Deeming was found not guilty. Toogood was sentenced to transportation but Burbury and Sparkes were found guilty on all counts and sentenced to death but a last minute reprieve saw their sentences transmuted to transportation. This event certainly had an effect as steam power wasn’t fully established in Coventry until 1840.
The Irony
Thomas Burbury initially worked in Van Diemens Land as a sheep farmer tending a flock of around 800 sheep. He became a field constable and was soon promoted to district constable. After arresting a group of outlaws in 1837 Thomas was pardoned. By 1861 he was a town councillor and when he died in July 1870 he was prosperous and left a large house surrounded by groves. His grandson Sir Stanley Burbury later became Governor of Tasmania!
Newspapers of the time noted that Alfred Toogood was living in Australia – “a respectable businessman doing well” He was pardoned in 1847 and returned to England shortly afterwards. In 1852 he went back to Australia and eventually died there in 1867.
In stark contrast by 1876 one of the almsmen at Bonds Hospital was Josiah Beck who died a pauper at the age of 84.
Preparing for future trouble
After 1832 in Coventry the Mayor & Magistrates introduced the use of Tumult & Riot Closure which enabled them to shut inns and taverns. This was a deterrent aimed at stopping drink fuelled disorder.
The pro forma notice shown below was printed in 1835 and illustrates what was always available to be filled in quickly at an appropriate time.
