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.

John Ratcliffe Eyewitness Account

Saw the Rochdale procession. Perceived no alarm from the inhabitants of Manchester. Saw many women and children in the procession. ‘The ladies showed no fear; indeed I was astonished at the indifference of the towns-people to the meeting.’

  • Place: Lees,Oldham
  • Role: Demonstrator
  • Occupation: Cotton Spinner
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Lucy Morville Eyewitness Account

Brought two children with her in the procession to SPF. Heard a constable say ‘he should like to kick up the start just now’.

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James Moorhouse Eyewitness Account

Moorhouse was arrested.

  • Place: Stockport
  • Role: Demonstrator
  • Occupation: Coachman
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Mary Lees Eyewitness Account

Not alarmed by procession to SPF.

  • Place: Middleton,Rochdale
  • Role: Spectator
  • Occupation: Barmaid
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William Kendal Eyewitness Account

Saw no bludgeons among the crowd marching to SPF.

  • Place: Middleton,Rochdale
  • Role: Spectator
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