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.

Richard Carlile Eyewitness Account

Press report sees Carlile call for the people to ‘bear arms’ to defend their rights.

Published in Sherwin’s Weekly Political Register, 21st August 1819.

Place: Elsewhere
Role: Press
Occupation: Reporter

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Nathan Broadhurst Petitioner

Petitioner was on the hustings, gives detailed account of proceedings, including the wounds he suffered. Seeking a parliamentary inquiry.

Place: Manchester
Role: Demonstrator,Injured,Petitioner

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Mary Fildes Petitioner

Was assailed by a special constable by the name of Heifor, struck to the ground and her hankerchief stolen. She was later protected from a further sabre blow by a constable who recognised her.

She notes, in detail, seeing an elderly man by the name of Scholefield being struck on the head, and blood running through his sparse grey hair.

Place: Manchester
Role: Demonstrator,Injured,Petitioner

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Mary Black Petitioner

Trampled by horses in the Yeomanry charge.

Place: Manchester
Role: Demonstrator,Injured,Petitioner

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Margaret Goodwin Petitioner

A member of the cavalry named Thomas Shelmerdine inflicted a sabre wound on her head. She was later trampled almost to death, before being shown mercy by a member of the yeomanry.