THE STORY OF A REVOLUTION Why did the Pentrich Revolution Happen? In 1815 the Napoleonic Wars ended at the Battle of Waterloo and the end of the war brought recession in the iron and textile industries, some of central Derbyshire’s main employers. To help the poor and unemployed there was a form of Parish relief based on a rating system but as more people claimed relief the tax on remaining families increased. This had the effect of bankrupting small farmers and other working people. By 1817 the Industrial Revolution was gathering momentum and the population was growing, especially in urban areas. With the increase and movement of population the government was no longer representative of the people. For example the growing industrial areas of Leeds and Manchester had no MPs to represent them but Cornwall had 44 MPs. The Monarchy was also in a precarious state. The Prince Regent’s extravagant lifestyle did not endear him to the people at a time when many of their subjects were suffering unbelievable hardship, the Royal Family was perceived as enjoying themselves. Against this background of recession, poverty and bad government, groups intent on political reform began to meet. In Nottingham, Derby and Ripley reformers would meet as “Hampden Clubs” such as one at the Cock Hotel in Ripley. In 1816 the weather added to the misery. We now know that the Tambora volcano & eruption of 1815 wrought havoc with the global weather patterns; in Derbyshire there was snow in June. Crops failed and bad weather in 1816 meant crops went unharvested. Starvation threatened and violent disturbances broke out all over the country over the price of food. With the French Revolution and American Revolution in recent memory, the government feared widespread revolt and adopted panic measures. Meetings of more than 50 people were forbidden, effectively disbanding clubs. Spies were sent out to report back unrest and by suspending Habeas Corpus the government ensured that anyone could be held in prison without trial. |
