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 Tyas Eyewitness Account

Was on the hustings when Hunt made his speech. Saw no insurrectionary activity or resistance from the crowd. ‘As the cavalry advanced, the people fell away on each side; the constables seemed to be striking persons behind the cavalry’.

Place: Elsewhere
Role: Press,Spectator
Occupation: Reporter 'The Times'

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John Turner Eyewitness Account

Saw no large sticks in the crowd. Not alarmed by procession to SPF.

Not a ‘reformer’.

Place: Middleton,Rochdale
Role: Spectator
Occupation: Draper,Tailor

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William Thelwall Eyewitness Account

Saw women at the meeting in SPF. Attended earlier meetings, but did not know that they were for reform. ‘Had seen Mr. Hunt before at a meeting at Manchester. Took no part in the proceedings.’

Place: Manchester
Role: Spectator
Occupation: Builder

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James Stott Eyewitness Account

Saw no violent resistance of any sort whatsoever by the crowd at SPF. Saw many respectable-looking people amongst the crowd. ‘Heard no groaning, hisses, nor saw any brandishing of cudgels; he heard nothing of the sort.’