On Friday 15 November 2024, Blandford Town Museum are publishing ‘I fear there will be blood spilt this evening’: The Blandford Forum riots of 1831 a new book by Steve Poole and Roger Ball, based on the research for the 1831 refom riots project. In October 1831, the refusal of the House of Lords to… Continue reading Publication of ‘I fear there will be blood spilt tonight’: The Blandford Forum riots of 1831
Tag: Dorset
Event: Book and 1831 riot soundscapes launch at Blandford Literary Festival
Event details Blandford Literary Festival: Friday 15 November – 11:00am – Royal British Legion Club, Legion House, Church Lane, Blandford Forum, DT11 7AD Prof Steve Poole, Dr Roger Ball and Ralph Hoyte The dual launch of a new booklet published by Blandford Town Museum ‘I fear there will be blood spilt this evening’ The Blandford… Continue reading Event: Book and 1831 riot soundscapes launch at Blandford Literary Festival
Prelude to the riots in Dorset in October 1831
This essay considers a series of preludes in 1830 and 1831 to the riots in Dorset and south Somerset in October 1831. Although written from the perspective of Sherborne in north Dorset this paper provides useful context for case studies of riots in Blandford, Sherborne and Yeovil. It examines agricultural disturbances (known as the ‘Swing… Continue reading Prelude to the riots in Dorset in October 1831
The Blandford Forum riots of October 1831
This case study covers the reform related riots in Blandford Forum in Dorset over the period 15-19 October 1831. The study commences with an assessment of the governance and jurisdiction of the town with reference to the borough boundary and brief context concerning the Swing riots and the county by-election. A detailed day-by-day analysis of… Continue reading The Blandford Forum riots of October 1831
The Sherborne Riots of October 1831
This case study covers the reform related riots in Sherborne in Dorset over the period 19-21 October 1831. It commences with an assessment of the demographics, economics and industry, and land ownership in the town and its environs. It considers the living conditions of artisan and labouring families by studying housing and public health and… Continue reading The Sherborne Riots of October 1831
Event: “I fear there will be blood spilt this evening”: The 1831 reform riots in Dorset
Date: Saturday 27 May, 2023
Talk by Dr Roger Ball and Prof Steve Poole In October 1831, the defeat of the Second Reform Bill in the House of Lords led to a wave of pro-reform public protests and disturbances across Britain. Concurrently in Dorset, a microcosm of the national struggle over electoral reform was being fought out in a county… Continue reading Event: “I fear there will be blood spilt this evening”: The 1831 reform riots in Dorset
‘Zummerset Refarmers’ – the Yeovil ‘reform riot’ of October 1831
In early October 1831, the defeat of the Second Reform Bill in the House of Lords led to a wave of pro-reform public protests and disturbances across Britain and Ireland. In Dorset, a microcosm of the national struggle over electoral reform was being fought out in a county by-election which posed Lord Ashley – an… Continue reading ‘Zummerset Refarmers’ – the Yeovil ‘reform riot’ of October 1831
‘I fear there will be blood spilt this evening’: The Blandford ‘reform riots’ of October 1831
In early October 1831, the defeat of the Second Reform Bill in the House of Lords led to a wave of pro-reform public protests and disturbances across Britain and Ireland. Meanwhile in Dorset, a microcosm of the national struggle over electoral reform was being fought out in a county by-election which posed Lord Ashley –… Continue reading ‘I fear there will be blood spilt this evening’: The Blandford ‘reform riots’ of October 1831
Event: 1831 Dorset and Somerset Reform riots – Travelling display launched
This seven-panel display places the reform riots of 1831 in Dorset and Somerset within the wider context of the national struggle for reform. From the foundation of popular Political Unions in 1830 campaigning for expansion of the franchise to the collapse of Wellington’s government later that year, this was a period of significant political change… Continue reading Event: 1831 Dorset and Somerset Reform riots – Travelling display launched
Report: Research Workshops in Dorset and Somerset
An important part of the research into the lesser known reform related riots and disturbances of October-November 1831 involves engaging with local historians, family historians, museum curators and archivists in the areas where the incidents occurred. Local historical knowledge of people, places, events and even artefacts in the period of study is of great value… Continue reading Report: Research Workshops in Dorset and Somerset