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.

Nancy Prestwich Eyewitness Account

Led a procession of women from Mossley to SPF.

  • Place: Mossley,Tameside
  • Role: Spectator
  • Occupation: Widow
Find out more

James Platt Eyewitness Account

Attended SPF as Police Officer.

  • Place: Manchester
  • Role: Officer
  • Occupation: Police Constable
Find out more

William Nicholson Eyewitness Account

Saw the procession from Lees to Manchester. Saw sticks thrown at cavalry.

  • Place: Lees,Oldham
  • Role: Spectator
  • Occupation: Printer
Find out more

Edmund Newton Eyewitness Account

Attended SPF but did not join procession.

  • Place: Middleton,Rochdale
  • Role: Spectator
  • Occupation: Weaver
Find out more

Samuel Morton Eyewitness Account

Witnessed meetings of 9th and 16 August; feared trouble.

Saw men women children, with flags, banners, line abreast; ‘like a war procession’

  • Place: Manchester
  • Role: Spectator
  • Occupation: Manufacturer
Find out more

Enormous thanks to our partners and funders