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In the years after 1830, there was often friction between the farmers and the labourers, with respect to the standard wages. In many cases, the farmers could not pay the new wages out of their margin, and had to use their capital. “In what state are the poor?” “They are generally in employ.” “Have theySigue leyendo «13.10. Violence against Farmers»

Another factor which affected the labouring people in late 1830 was beer. The Beer Act was passed in 1830, and came into effect on 10th October. This allowed any rate-paying person to open a beer-shop on the payment of 2 guineas annually. This was in addition to the existing public houses, which needed a licenceSigue leyendo «13.9. Beer Drinking and Beer Houses»

In the West Country, those labourers who had fixed employment with a farmer, did not take part in the violent riots and machine breaking. Rather, they volunteered to guard the property of the farmer or the landowner: “During the riots which disgraced this county and the country in the latter part of the year 1830,Sigue leyendo «13.8. Defence of the Farms by the Labourers»

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»