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.

Robert Brooks Eyewitness Account

Statement given 1/11/1819, about the proceedings on 16/8/1819.

Place: Bolton
Role: Military
Occupation: Quarter Master

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Jonathan Andrew Eyewitness Account

7/10/1819. Statement about events on 15-16/8/1819, including marching practice. He did not see anyone injured by sabres.

Occupation: Constable

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Robert Thorpe Eyewitness Account

Statement made by Thorpe in respect of injury to Mr Christopher [Halton? Hatton?]

Place: Manchester
Role: Spectator
Occupation: Surgeon

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J. Allen Eyewitness Account

16/8/1819, 2:30pm: Note from Allen to Sidmouth/Hobhouse, received 7:30 pm 17/8/1819.

Place: Manchester
Role: Spectator

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C J Tench Eyewitness Account

Statement enclosed in a letter to Hobhouse (HomeOffice). It describes the activities and he saw Yeomanry trooper Mr Hulme brought to the ground by a stone.