Following in their footsteps
Date published: 17 August 2009
Peterloo anniversary walk ,the Mayor Jim Mcardle and Mayoress Kay Knox raise the flag at the Civic Centre.
DOZENS of Oldhamers recreated an historic march on the 190th anniversary of the Peterloo Massacre by walking to Manchester.
Up to 18 people died in 1819 and hundreds were left injured when the militia charged on a crowd of civil rights protesters in Manchester.
An estimated 10,000 Oldhamers were in the 70,000 crowd which came under attack, with five losing their lives and many injured.
To mark the milestone, Oldham Community Radio 99.7FM organised yesterday’s walk to commemorate the significant contribution made by local people to a defining event in history.
Common men, women and children had walked from across the region to gather at St Peter’s Field on August 16, 1819 to demand the reform of Parliamentary representation.
But the authorities were concerned it would result in a riot and ordered the Manchester and Salford cavalry to arrest the organisers and disperse the crowd.
The militia charged into the crowd on horseback, cutting down innocent people with their sabres.
Oldhamers John Ashton, Thomas Buckley, Edmund Dawson and William Dawson all died from either sabre wounds or crush injuries, while John Lees died from sabre wounds some weeks later.
The country was horrified and the aftermath resulted in the controversial Corn Laws — a tax on imports — being repealed. Residents got MPs to represent their interests, and all men, and later women, got the opportunity to vote.
Yesterday nine people met in Lydgate to begin the procession, including one man who set off before 7am to walk from Dobcross, carrying his own banner calling for the repeal of the Corn Laws.
Residents from Lees, Moorside, Shaw and Royton met them at Oldham Civic Centre to swell the number to around 35.
Oldham Mayor, Councillor Jim McArdle; and Mayoress, Councillor Kay Knox conducted a flag raising ceremony and the group sang along to an Oldham Tinkers song about Peterloo.
Then began the long march to the original site of the 1819 meeting, near to the former G-Mex Arena, now called Manchester Central.
Walkers from Chadderton, Failsworth and Middleton joined along the way to increase numbers to more than 60. Up to 400 people gathered there to listen to speeches and sing songs.
Station manager, David McGealy, who organised the Oldham contingent, said: “I’m absolutely shattered but it was very good. The banner from Saddleworth museum was an absolute showstopper.
“There was a really good turnout — the organiser said it was 10 times bigger than previous years. Everyone from Oldham was exhilarated but absolutely shattered! I’m feeling very proud of the people of Oldham who I think have been at the forefront of making a conscious effort to acknowledge the sacrifice and effort made by the forebears of this area.
“They realised that their life today is very different and far easier than these people 190 years ago and it was through their sacrifice we have what we have today.
“There were lots of people saying next year will be even bigger.”
