Now! Then! Lady Ludd leads bread rioters through the streets of Leeds

18 August 1812: Lady Ludd leads bread rioters through the streets of Leeds

Edward Parsons. 1834. The civil, ecclesiastical, literary, commercial, and miscellaneous history of Leeds, Halifax, Huddersfield, Bradford, Wakefield, Dewsbury, Otley and the manufacturing district of Yorkshire, Vol. 1. Leeds: Frederick Hobson. Get it:

Excerpt

It must be stated that great numbers of the poor were induced to lend themselves as ready tools to their iniquitous leaders by the immensely high prices of provisions, the scarcity of employment, and the consequent prevalence of distress. Wheat of the best quality in August 1812 sold for nine pounds a quarter, and a serious riot consequently occurred in Leeds. Headed by a virago, dignified for the occasion with the title of Lady Ludd, the populace furiously assailed the dealers in the market; they seized upon a considerable quantity of corn, which they wantonly threw about the streets: and repairing to the works of a miller at Holbeck, who had made himself obnoxious to their violence, they did considerable damage to the property upon his premises. The labouring classes of this district were at this time in a most depressed and unhappy condition – they could often with difficulty procure the necessaries, to say nothing of the comforts, of existence and they with reason complained of the excessive burden of taxation, and the frequent interruptions of manufacturing activity, involved by a protracted and most expensive war. Under these circum- stances, the spirit of outrage need not be wondered at, however it may be condemned; and while we denounce the atrocious crimes of the populace, we may deplore that wretchedness which in a great measure instigated to their commission.

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To facilitate reading, the spelling and punctuation of elderly excerpts have generally been modernised, and distracting excision scars concealed. My selections, translations, and editions are copyright.

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Comment

It is suggested that this was Alice Mann:

https://secretlibraryleeds.net/2019/09/13/alice-mann-1791-1865/
Alice Mann: A Forgotten Woman Of Leeds

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Original

Diabolical as were these excesses, and deeply guilty as were the originators, abettors, and agents of this monstrous system of violence and murder, it must be stated that great numbers of the poor were induced to lend themselves as ready tools to their iniquitous leaders, by the immensely high prices of provisions, the scarcity of employment, and the consequent prevalence of distress. Wheat, of the best quality, in August, 1812, sold for nine pounds a quarter, and a serious riot consequently occurred in Leeds. Headed by a virago, dignified for the occasion with the title of Lady Ludd, the populace furiously assailed the dealers in the market; they seized upon a considerable quantity of corn, which they wantonly threw about the streets: and repairing to the works of a miller at Holbeck, who had made himself obnoxious to their violence, they did considerable damage to the property upon his premises. The labouring classes of this district were at this time in a most depressed and unhappy condition – they could often with difficulty procure the necessaries, to say nothing of the comforts, of existence and they with reason complained of the excessive burden of taxation, and the frequent interruptions of manufacturing activity, involved by a protracted and most expensive war. Under these circum- stances, the spirit of outrage need not be wondered at, however it may be condemned; and while we denounce the atrocious crimes of the populace, we may deplore that wretchedness which in a great measure instigated to their commission.

252 words.