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.

Henry Hunt Petition

1821 Petition. Observes peaceful orderly crowd, observes the Manchester and Salford Yeomanry who attacked men, women and children, yeomanry possessed artillery. Recounts injustice of legal proceedings.

  • Place: Elsewhere
  • Role: Demonstrator
  • Occupation: Orator
Find out more

Magaret Horrocks Petitions

Petitioner observes peaceful gathering interrupted by Yeomanry who attacked indiscriminately, receives slash to side of head by yeomanry.

  • Place: Irlam,Oldham
  • Role: Injured,Petitioner
Find out more

Joseph Hindle

Recounts peaceful meeting, then Yeomanry attack, were subject received slash to the arm.

  • Place: Bolton,Manchester
  • Role: Injured
Find out more

John Thompson Eyewitness Account

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

Samuel John Smith Eyewitness Account

17/4/1820 Statement from Special Constable about the event of 16th, seeing stones thrown and sticks waved menacingly.

  • Place: Manchester
  • Role: Officer
  • Occupation: Calico Printer
Find out more

Enormous thanks to our partners and funders