Archivo del autor: Peter Van der Heyden. docenciapvdh@outlook.com

The “Riots” in these counties took place in the southeastern half of Wiltshire, some parts of northern Hampshire, and the southwestern quarter of Berkshire, with a few events in Dorset; all were wheat areas.  (See detailed maps in: Trevor Wild, Village England, I. B. Taurus, London, 2004, Fig. 5, p. 58, using information from Hobsbawm andSigue leyendo «13.7. Wiltshire, Hampshire, Berkshire»

“The evidence of the high-constable of Ashford is very strong, and his means of judging extensive,- having been called upon to attend at the numerous fires which have taken place in the district. He has been present in the condemned cells, at the last parting of the convicts from the friends and relations; and itSigue leyendo «13.6. Violence in Kent and Sussex»

The workers (not only agricultural) in Kent had been suffering financially since 1828: In early 1828, Sir John Holywood, in Waltham and Elmsted, was giving beef and bread to 632 families; the town of Folkestone was running a “food society” to provide soup twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, as well as organising theSigue leyendo «13.5. Kent and East Sussex»

The judge at the Winchester assizes remarked that none of the men showed signs of malnutrition: “In alluding to the crimes of these men, Mr. Baron Vaughn made the following important remarks:- “I believe that there are little short of a hundred persons whose lives are now forfeited to the state for their participation inSigue leyendo «13.4. Appearance of the Men»

In order to understand the feelings of the agricultural workers in 1830, when the Swing Riots broke out, we should revise the conditions that they had experienced in the previous 10 years, as to their incomes and their food consumption. Our most useful “optical witness” for the living conditions of the agricultural population in theSigue leyendo «13.3. Incomes and Food Level»

The “Swing Riots” are supposed have covered all Southern England, and thus demonstrate that there was hunger in the agricultural population in all this area. The reality is that almost all the violent acts took place in Kent plus East Sussex, and also in an area composed of the south-eastern half of Wiltshire, the south-westernSigue leyendo «13.2. The Swing Riots – Dimensions»

We have seen in an earlier chapter, that the threshing machines were accepted in Scotland and in Northern England in the period 1790 to 1815. From the farmers’ point of view, because they made the operation more efficient, and because they made up for the shortage of hands, due to the number of men takenSigue leyendo «13.1. Threshing Machines»

13.1. Threshing Machines https://history.pictures/2020/03/03/13-1-threshing-machines/ 13.2. The Swing Riots -Dimensions https://history.pictures/2020/03/04/13-2-the-swing-riots/ 13.3 Incomes and Food Level https://history.pictures/2020/03/04/13-3-incomes-and-food-level/ 13.4. Appearance of the Men https://history.pictures/2020/03/07/13-4-appearance-of-the-men/ 13.5. Kent and East Sussex https://history.pictures/2020/03/07/13-5-kent-and-east-sussex/ 13.6. Violence in Kent and Sussex https://history.pictures/2020/03/07/13-6-violence-in-kent-and-sussex/ 13.7. Wiltshire, Hampshire, Berkshire https://history.pictures/2020/03/07/13-7-wiltshire-hampshire-berkshire/ 13.8. Defense of the Farms by the Labourers https://history.pictures/2020/03/08/13-8-defence-of-the-farms-by-the-labourers/ 13.9. Beer Drinking and Beer HousesSigue leyendo «Chapter 13. The Swing Riots»

The figures as to monetary incomes are not complete if they do not take into account the rents paid, and the food from their own acivities.  “Taking the three counties of Shropshire, Denbighshire and Flintshire, should you say that the condition of the labourers now, as compared with their condition in 1800, was better orSigue leyendo «12.14. Cottages, Allotments, Potatoes, Cows»

For the year 1868, we have information from Mr. Denton, a land engineer, who had a long experience of the agricultural activities in different regions of England, and had also noted the wages. The following text is interesting, because it shows that an arithmetical comparison of wages between agricultural labourers and industrial workers may wellSigue leyendo «12.13. Wage Levels 1868»