Eyewitness Accounts

Eyewitness Accounts

To commemorate the 200 year anniversary of the Peterloo Massacre the Peterloo 2019 Ambassadors have worked in partnership with Professor Robert Poole (University of Central Lancashire), author of Peterloo: the English Uprising and the Age of Revolution at University of Kent to compile the 400+ eyewitness accounts which include press reports and petitions.

This is the first time the original accounts have been compiled into an online archive. You can now use the website to search by name, place and role and learn more about the eyewitness accounts from 1819.

Isabella Harvey Petitioner

Trampled upon by a horse before being dealt a blow to her arm.

  • Place: Pendleton,Salford
  • Role: Injured,Petitioner
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Ellen Harvey Petitioner

Struck a violent blow on her stomach by a Yeoman’s sabre.

  • Place: Pendleton,Salford
  • Role: Injured,Petitioner
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Elizabeth Harvey Petitioner

Trampled by horses, the flesh trod off her neck and face.

  • Place: Pendleton,Salford
  • Role: Injured,Petitioner
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John Tyas Eyewitness Account

The second part of the Times report from the 19th August.

  • Place: Elsewhere
  • Role: Press
  • Occupation: Reporter 'The Times'
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The Times Report

A follow-up article by the Times on the 19th August. It gives a detailed account of the massacre including details of what happened before, during and after at St Peters field. Included the number of people there as well as the death and injury toll.

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