IT may have slipped the memories of many Boltonian’s that there was a time when townspeople of old stood at the forefront in demanding real change from the political elites of the 19th Century.

Next year, we will commemorate the bi-centenary of the Peterloo Massacre on August 16, 1819, in which some of Bolton’s sons and daughters were struck down by a drunken Manchester Yeomanry sent in to disperse a peaceful protest by an estimated 100,000 working people at St Peter’s Field.

The protest arose out of the end of the Napolenic wars in 1815 and an increasing number of working people, who were without any vote to change the controls imposed on them by wealthy landowners, who were keen to maintain the status quo in towns and cities across the country.

Under the influence of men like Henry Hunt and the journalist William Cobbett, they began to campaign for universal suffrage arguing that extending the vote to working men would lead to better use of public money, fairer taxes and an end to restrictions on trade which damaged industry and caused unemployment.

At the centenary of Peterloo in 1919 The Bolton Evening News reported that Orator Hunt, then the most powerful demagogue in the country, the man for whom the “villagers” of Manchester were being urged at the musterings to vote, became a great popular hero. His journeys to and from Lancaster Assizes, where he faced various charges, were triumphal progresses

It explained that prior to Peterloo, Hunt: “Changed horse at Bolton, he was the centre of wildly enthusiastic demonstrations and the troops had an exacting task to keep the people in orderly array.

“Country weavers, men and women drew his carriage from Blackburn to Bolton. He addressed the huge crowds from the window of the Swan Inn, where he had stayed the night.

“His progress along Bradshawgate and all the way to Manchester, on his departure next day, was through masses of cheering admirers.”

In the early hours of August 16, 1819, many people from Bolton set off walking to Manchester to witness Mr Hunt and other reformers address them close what is now the Radisson Hotel on Peter Street.

The BEN reported: “The spinners and weavers of Bolton, Middleton and Bury and other towns and villages marched in procession five abreast to St Peter’s Field, Manchester.

“No reliable evidence was ever brought forward that the Riot Act was publicly read before the dispersal of the crowd.

“It noted that the Manchester Yeomanry, hot headed young men who were more or less intoxicated, drew their swords and dashed into the crowd, which they attacked recklessly’. They were soon completely hemmed round.

“The Hussars (six troops of the 15th Hussars) now dashed forward to their rescue and with such force that fugitives in their efforts to escape were literally piled up to a considerable height above the level of the field. The Yeomanry then extricated, again rode into the crowd, cutting and slashing wherever there was an opportunity.”

Estimates vary as to how many were killed, which was between 10 and 20, with 19, as the likeliest figure and more than 400 injured, by the brutal slashing of sabres or being trampled and crushed by both horses and men, women and children attempting to flee the carnage.

The Bolton victims included: weaver John Ainsworth , 2, Duncan Street, Bolton Moor, who suffered severe sabre-cut on his right cheek.

Ex-weaver Joseph Hindle, Duncan Street, Little Bolton, who sustained a severe sabre cut on the right arm, just above the elbow.

Weaver Jeremy Holden, 18, Rothwell Street, Weaver, was cut in the palm of his right hand with a sabre.

Joseph Kinsey, Walshaw Halshaw Moor, cut under the ear by a sabre.

Weaver Henry Marsh, knocked down by a Constable, beat on the loins and legs, his knees bruised.

Weaver Thomas McLone, 4, Shaw Street, Bolton Moor, knocked down and hurt in the eye.

Weaver Frederick Parkinson, thrown down by the crowd, and his right knee hurt

Weaver James Parr, trampled on by the crowd, and injured internally.

John Pickering, Bolton Moor, left arm and thigh hurt, and bruised in the body.

Hatter Thomas Thompson, Cross Keys, Bolton Moor, sabre wound on the foot.

Spinner Thomas Thompson, Bolton Moor Bolton, wounded in the eye

Weaver William Thompson, Middle Street, Bolton, stabbed in the right eye with the point of a sabre, and trampled on.

Labourer Thomas Tong, Church Street, received cut on left foot as he fell over some timber, was severely crushed and trampled.

Oliver Wood, Middle-street, Bolton Moor, thrown down repeatedly and right leg trampled on.

In the days after, what was termed initially as the ‘Manchester Massacre’ the rich and powerful tried to defend their action on the day.

Another local infamous connection was William Hulton, of Hulton Park, who days before the gathering at St Peter’s Field, and as chairman of magistrates, met in Manchester with colleagues to receive reports and make arrangements to deal with the coming demonstration

Hulton is forever vilified for his involvement in the slaughter and suppression of innocent people and was even subject to a vicious attack one day while out walking in Bolton with his wife

A frightened government responded by trying to prevent demonstrations by legislation by introducing six Acts of Parliament targeting the working people, also trying to control the press and suppressing any meetings for the purpose of radical reform, reducing options for bail, requiring permission of a sheriff or magistrate in order to convene any public meeting of more than 50 if it concerned "church or state",

The Blasphemous and Seditious Libels Act increased to fourteen years transportation and the Newspaper and Stamp Duties Act extended and increased taxes, also requiring publishers to post a bond.

One man from Bolton, shopkeeper Joseph Shaw, was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment in Lancaster Gaol for selling what was deemed by the authorities to be ‘seditious’ pamphlets at the Manchester event.