Part of the 2026-27 lecture season of the Worcestershire Archaeological Society. Presented by Dr Roger Ball (Visiting Fellow, University of the West of England)
Monday 14 December, 7.30pm, The Hive, Sawmill Walk, The Butts, Worcester, England WR1 3PD
In October 1831, the defeat of the Second Reform Bill in the House of Lords led to a huge wave of pro-reform protests and disturbances across Britain and Ireland. Major disorders in the east Midlands, Dorset and Somerset, were followed in Bristol by the most serious riot in nineteenth century England.
Less than a week later, Worcester was to experience a riot of its own. This talk will consider the event in detail, with an emphasis on who the rioters were, their targets, and interactions with the authorities. It will try to answer the question: Why were men and women of the labouring class rioting in support of a Reform Bill that was never likely to enfranchise them?
The research for this lecture was funded by the ESRC project Intergroup Dynamics within the 1831 reform riots led by the University of West of England.
Talks are free for WAS Members. If you’re not a member, but are interested in one or more of the talks, please do come along – they are only £2 a person! Join us and learn something new.
For booking see link below….