1819 – Mossley Remembers Peterloo – 2019

1.      Mossley’s Connection With Peterloo:  

John Knight who was born and buried in Mossley

Rev William Robert Hay and the Radical Meeting at Buxton Castle

The Trial of Henry Hunt and the two Mossley Witnesses – Nancy Prestwich, and her son John Hully

2.     Women of Peterloo:

Four Ladies Who Lost Their Lives

Three Ladies Beaten about the Head

Two Ladies Arrested with Henry Hunt and

The President of the Female Reform Society

3.      Local People Connected With Peterloo:

Stalybridge Band – Booked to Play at Peterloo

Joseph Whitworth – from Hyde – Shot By The Military

Robert Wilde – of Stalybridge – Arrested with Henry Hunt

4.      The Victims:

The Men and Boys Who Died of Injuries Received at Peterloo and Whose Burial Places Are Known

(Including information about the Saddleworth, Lees & Mossley Union Flag)

Those from what is now the Tameside area who were injured at Peterloo

The Police Victim of the Immediate Aftermath – his Wilful Murder

5.      Commemorative Ware, Memorabilia, and Crowd Scenes:

Cups / Jugs / Paintings / Cartoons / Film Still / Liberty Caps / Posters / Peterloo Medal

6.      General Peterloo Information:

List of All Who Lost Their Lives / Red Plaque / Deller Memorial / Maps / Plans / Newspaper Reports

In addition to the main exhibition:

The Books:

The Story of Mossley, 5,000 Acres of Old Ashton, The Manchester Man, and Short Stories About Failsworth Folk, find out what all of these books have to say about Peterloo.

The Ballads:

Listen to Broadside Ballads about Peterloo, or simply just read the words on our song sheets.

The Brochure:

a Commemorative Brochure, printed in full colour, will be on sale at St George’s Church.

The Banners and Pendants:

Each one Handmade Locally, and part of the Tameside Remembers Peterloo Exhibition, these will be on display at St George’s Church from Saturday 17 August until Saturday 31 August.

Create Your Own Peterloo Flag:

Children of all ages (that is everyone age 0-90 !!!) are invited to colour-in a flag – will yours be Mossley themed ???

The Guided Tour of the Graveyard:

Each Sunday in August at 2.00 pm a guided tour of St George’s Graveyards, by local historians, those buried at St George’s who have a Peterloo connection: you will be shown John Knight’s actual burial place, stories will be told about the (few) cotton mill owners of 200 years ago, view the plaque to the Mossley man who fought with the Duke of Wellington v Napoleon, the final battle Waterloo lent its name to Peterloo, meet the lady who married a Vicar and may be John Knight’s daughter, and much more!!! No need to book – just turn up at 2.pm on a Sunday in August.And its Free !!!

Songs, Ballads, and Music

Each Saturday in August at 2pm inside the church there will be a half-hour musical entertainment session, featuring songs, ballads, and music, by local and well-known performers, who will be performing live. And we have a superb line-up:

Saturday 3 Aug: Our very own Martin Simpson, a Local Councillor, Mossley Morris Man, and Singer / Songwriter. Martin has composed a new song about John Knight, and St George’s Church, Mossley, will host its world premiere! A Guaranteed Good Performance.

Saturday 10 August: Geoff Higginbottom of The Free Radicals has been asked to perform a selection of songs from his Peterloo repertoire. Geoff features on the album Peterloo recorded by John Peel (Yes – The BBC DJ, John Peel !). Hear A True Professional At Work.

Saturday 17 August: Mossley music and choral groups salute the work of John Knight, with a special, short, concert.  First the Ukulele group will play a set which will last about 10 minutes,then the combined groups will play/sing The Ballad of John Knight, newly composed by Pat Baker of Mossley,and Good Vibrations will end the performance with 10 minutes of their repertoire.

Saturday 24 August: Another artist from the John Peel album is Mark Dowding. Mark has appeared at several Folk Festivals, done umpteen concerts, been on the radio, and made loads of CD’s. He is to perform some Peterloo themed songs and songs from the Peterloo era. Not to be missed.

Saturday 31 August: The highlight of our mini Peterloo Songs, Ballads, and Music Festival features John Howarth of The Oldham Tinkers. The modern song Peterloo was especially written for The Oldham Tinkers, and John composed the tune.  Highly Recommended.

Each and every one of these acts is worth watching – they are all different – and I recommend that you try to listen to them all.

It will be spectacular to sit in the church looking at the Peterloo pendants and banners whilst listening to Peterloo ballads, and songs of and about the Peterloo era, all accompanied by music.

There is no need to book – we have plenty of pews, so there really is room for everyone – just turn up and take a seat ready for the 2.00 pm start, on a Saturday in August.