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.

Martha Robinson Eyewitness Account

Identified the trumpeter on the piebald horse and had later spoken with soldiers “…who cut several persons in the street where I live”.

Place: Manchester
Role: Spectator
Occupation: Housewife

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John Robinson Eyewitness Account

Very detailed account of the nature of the sabering actions taken by members of the Yeomanry at St.Peter’s field, and he is able to identify Reid as one of these individuals.

Place: Manchester
Role: Spectator
Occupation: Merchant

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Elizabeth Rayborn Eyewitness Account

Saw constables fire three shots through her windows, then later enter the house, whilst someone upstairs threw stones at them.

Place: Manchester
Role: Spectator

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Ann Raybourn

Saw soldiers and constables attack her house, firing through the window, claiming they were looking for someone inside. Produced one of the bullets shot through the window as evidence. Lived at No. 1 Watson Street, and was at the meeting.

Place: Manchester
Role: Spectator
Occupation: Daughter of Lodging-House Keeper

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James Platt Eyewitness Account

Officer at the Lees Inquest who testified that he only saw sticks, brick-bats and stones on the empty ground of St. Peters Field after the meeting – nothing else.