News

News

2030

200 years since the SWING RIOTS

2030 will mark 200 years since the farm labourers of England rose up in protest at their low wages. They held protest meetings, refused to work and destroyed machinery, particularly threshing machines, which they believed were taking away their work in winter. Find out if your town, village or farm was the scene of protest. Discover if your ancestor was involved in any way, as a protester, someone whose property was destroyed, who wrote letter to the Home Office to report the events in their area, signed petitions on behalf of convicted labourers, or who was assigned any of the men who were transported to Australia. What became of those who were transported, and their families left behind? I would like to think that these events will be remembered in some way, and would love to hear from anyone who has plans for some kind of commemoration.