Cinderloo Uprising

{{Short description|1821 killings by British troops in Telford}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox civil conflict | title = Cinderloo Uprising | subtitle = | partof = | image = | caption = | date = {{Start date|1821|02|02 |df=y}} | place = [[Coalbrookdale Coalfield]] | coordinates = | causes = {{indented plainlist| * [[Post-Napoleonic depression]] * Pay cuts }}| goals = Restoration of pay levels | methods = [[Strike action]] | status = | result = {{Flatlist| * [[Riot]] }} | side1 = Striking miners and their supporters | side2 = South Shropshire Yeomanry | side3 = | side4 = | leadfigures1 = Thomas Palin (alleged) | leadfigures2 = Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Cludde | leadfigures3 = | leadfigures4 = | howmany1 = 3,000+ | howmany2 = | howmany3 = | howmany4 = | casualties1 = | casualties2 = | casualties3 = | casualties4 = | fatalities = 2 (plus one hanged subsequently) | injuries = | arrests = | detentions = | charged = {{indented plainlist| * Thomas Palin (hanged) * Samuel Hayward (reprieved) * Seven others ([[hard labour]]) }} | fined = | casualties_label = }}

The '''Cinderloo Uprising''' took place at Old Park in the [[Coalbrookdale Coalfield]] (present day [[Telford]]) on 2 February 1821, when the [[Shropshire Yeomanry|South Shropshire Yeomanry]] confronted a crowd of 3,000 mostly striking workers who had gathered to protest the continued lowering of their pay.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Disturbances Near Wellington|date=7 February 1821|work=Salopian Journal}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Growcott |first1=Mat |title=The riot that Telford forgot: New group trying to raise awareness of Cinderloo uprising |url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/telford/2018/10/06/the-riot-that-telford-forgot--new-group-trying-to-raise-awareness-of-cinderloo-uprising/ |access-date=18 June 2019 |work=Shropshire Star |date=6 October 2018}}</ref>

When requested to disperse following the reading of the [[Riot Act]], the workers refused to do so, and pelted the Yeomanry with stones and lumps of cinders. In response the Yeomanry, led by Lieutenant Colonel Edward Cludde, opened fire on the crowd.

The uprising resulted in the deaths of three miners, two of whom were killed outright whilst another, Thomas Palin, was hanged for his participation in the disturbance on 7 April 1821.

The name Cinderloo derives from the similar [[Peterloo Massacre]] which had taken place in Manchester just 18 months beforehand. Peterloo had itself been named after the [[Battle of Waterloo]] which had ended the [[Napoleonic Wars]].

== Background == The end of the [[Napoleonic Wars]] in 1815 brought with it [[Post-Napoleonic depression|a period of economic depression]] across the United Kingdom. Twinned with this, the [[Coalbrookdale Coalfield]]s had begun to enter into a period of industrial stagnation and suffered competition from the [[Coal industry in Wales|iron works and coal production industries of South Wales]] and from the neighbouring [[Black Country]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Dynasty of Iron Founders: the Darbys and Coalbrookdale|last=Raistrick|first=Arthur|publisher=Sessions Book Trust/Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust|year=1989|isbn=1-85072-058-4|location=Coalbrookdale}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Trinder |first1=Barrie |title=The Industrial Revolution in Shropshire |date=2000 |publisher=Phillimore |location=Chichester |isbn=9780750967877 |page=159 |edition=Third}}</ref>

Facing industrial decline and competition from more productive coalfields, local [[ironmaster]]s, including men such as [[Thomas Botfield]], made an illegal pact to reduce the pay of their workers by 6d per day in order to compensate for their losses,<ref>{{Cite news|title=Fatal Riot|date=9 February 1821|work=Shrewsbury Chronicle}}</ref> announcing to their workers on 31 January 1821 that the pay reductions were necessary on the grounds of 'stagnation of trade' and the falling value of iron.<ref name=shropyeo1>{{cite book|last=Gladstone|first=E.W.|title=The Shropshire Yeomanry 1795-1945, the Story of a Volunteer Cavalry Regiment|year=1953|publisher=The Whitethorn Press|page=21}}</ref>

== Collier strike == In response to the lowering of their wages, colliers across the Coalbrookdale Coalfields went on strike on 1 February 1821 in order to demonstrate their dissatisfaction with the reductions being made to their pay. Production across the area was halted. A large body of men marched to ironworks at [[Madeley, Shropshire|Madeley Wood]] and [[Dawley]], blowing out all the furnaces, damaging machinery, and inciting non-striking workers to join in.<ref name=shropyeo1/>

The following day saw the strike continue. At that point it was considered necessary for county magistrates to call out the local yeomanry, initially two troops of the South Shropshire Yeomanry based at [[Wellington, Shropshire|Wellington]] under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Cludde, to aid the civil power.<ref name=shropyeo1/>

Striking colliers, many armed with sticks and bludgeons, left the ironworks at [[Donnington, Telford|Donnington]] before moving on to halt the production of the furnaces at Old Park, about three miles from Wellington. Following this the crowd, now numbering between 300 and 400 people, moved on to the ironworks in Lightmoor, Dawley, and [[Horsehay]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mercer |first1=A. C. B |title=Cinderloo Affair |work=Shropshire Magazine |date=January 1966}}</ref> The striking colliers had intended to end their march at [[Coalbrookdale]] yet word of the strike had reached the Yeomanry. Instead of continuing on to the ironworks of Coalbrookdale the crowd returned to the furnaces at Old Park.

By this point the size of the strike had swelled to an estimated 3,000 people including many women and children.<ref name=shropyeo1/>

== Arrival of the Yeomanry == By the mid afternoon the Yeomanry arrived to break up the crowd which had gathered at Old Park near two industrial spoil heaps known as the 'Cinders Hills'.<ref name=shropyeo1/> As the magistrate, Thomas Eyton, began to read the [[Riot Act]] out to the crowd, ordering that they dissipate and return home, the mob refused to do so and the strikers responded by hurling rocks and cinders at the troops that had arrived to assist in their dispersal.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Trinder |first1=Barrie |title=The Industrial Revolution in Shropshire |date=2000 |publisher=Phillimore |location=Chichester |isbn=9781860771330 |pages=232–233 |edition=Third}}</ref> An hour later the Yeomanry moved forward to arrest the ringleaders of the strike yet came under continued assault from the crowd. At this point Colonel Cludde gave the order for 'the cavalry to advance, to endeavour to disperse them'.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Cludde|first=W|title=to H.O|publisher=PRO HO 40/16/15|date=4 February 1821}}</ref>

The advance made by the cavalry resulted in the arrest of eight strikers who were removed from the crowd and were prepared for transportation to nearby Wellington in order to stand trial. Yet when the Yeomanry began to transport those detained away from the strike they came under a relentless shower of stones and cinders. In the confusion two of those being transported away managed to escape. In retaliation Colonel Cludde gave the command for the Yeomanry to open fire on the crowd.<ref name=shropyeo1/>

The Yeomanry opened fire on the crowd instantly killing William Bird, an 18 year old collier. By the time the crowd dispersed the Yeomanry had arrested the eight strikers.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Wellington Rioters|date=30 March 1821|work=Shrewsbury Chronicle}}</ref> Another collier, Thomas Gittens, and possibly one other unnamed man, later died as a result of the wounds he received.<ref>The account on page 21 of ''The Shropshire Yeomanry'' by E.W. Gladstone, states "One of the rioters was killed and several wounded, ''two'' more would die afterwards" [emphasis added].</ref> Thomas Palin, singled out as the ringleader of the disturbances by the authorities, was later arrested after he sought treatment from a local doctor for a bullet wound he received.

An unknown number of strikers were wounded following the response of the local Yeomanry to the unrest. The Yeomanry reported a number of injuries as a result of the rocks and cinders hurled at them, however the most serious injury suffered by them came as a result of a misfired [[Flintlock|pistol]] going off in the holster of a cavalryman, injuring his leg.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Disturbances near Wellington|date=7 February 1821|work=Salopian Journal}}</ref>

== Aftermath == On 3 February, Colonel Cludde was sent reinforcements by a troop of his own regiment from [[Halesowen]] (then an exclave of Shropshire within [[Worcestershire]]), both troops of the separately commanded Shrewsbury Yeomanry cavalry, and staff from the county militia.<ref name=shropyeo1/>

On 4 February military presence in the area was increased to prevent any further outbreaks of violence. Three troops of the South Shropshire Yeomanry were stationed in the coalfields alongside a troop of the [[Carabiniers (6th Dragoon Guards)|6th Dragoon Guards]],<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Talbot |first1=Phillip |title=The English Yeomanry In The Nineteenth Century And The Great Boer War |journal=Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research |date=Spring 2001 |volume=79 |issue=317 |page=48}}</ref> who had arrived at [[Shifnal]]. This prevented the rioters assembling in large bodies although "numerous small parties spread themselves over the neighbourhood, begging, robbing and destroying property".<ref name=shropyeo1/> The rioters gradually quietened, enabling the yeomanry troops to be sent home by 6 February.<ref>E. W. Gladstone, ''The Shropshire Yeomanry 1795–1945'', p. 22.</ref>

The initial dispute which had caused the riot was resolved soon after, with some ironmasters agreeing to reduce the daily pay of the workers by 4d instead of 6d.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Trinder |first1=Barrie |title=The Industrial Revolution in Shropshire |date=2000 |publisher=Phillimore |location=Chichester |isbn=9781860771330 |page=233 |edition=3}}</ref>

An inquest into the deaths of William Bird and Thomas Gittens resulted in a jury returning a verdict of [[justifiable homicide]] on 6 February.<ref name=shropyeo1/>

Of the nine arrested, seven were sentenced to nine months [[Penal labour|hard labour]] whilst Thomas Palin and Samuel Hayward were sentenced to [[Hanging|death by hanging]] for the crime of felonious riot. Hayward managed to secure a reprieve on 2 April and avoided the death sentence.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Trial of the Colliers|date=28 March 1821|work=Salopian Journal}}</ref> Thomas Palin was [[Hanging|executed]] for his role in the strike on 7 April.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Execution|date=11 April 1821|work=Salopian Journal}}</ref>

== Legacy == The Cinderloo Uprising has been the subject of a number of songs. Notably the event forms the basis of the song "We've had enough" by local band Savannah.{{cn|date=March 2026}}

A bridge connecting [[Telford Central railway station|Telford Railway Station]] and [[Telford Shopping Centre|Telford Town Centre]] has also been referred to as "Cinderloo Bridge" by some residents of the town.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Growcott |first1=Mat |title='Cinderloo Bridge'?: Campaigners call for Telford's new £10 million footbridge to be named after 1821 uprising |url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/telford/2019/02/26/campaigners-call-for-telfords-new-10-footbridge-to-be-named-after-cinderloo-uprising/ |access-date=18 June 2019 |newspaper=Shropshire Star |date=26 February 2019}}</ref>

In commemoration of the 200th anniversary of Cinderloo, [[Telford and Wrekin Council]] renamed a bridge on the [[Silkin Way]] "Cinderloo Bridge".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Telford bridge renamed Cinderloo to mark 200th anniversary |date=1 February 2021 |url=http://newsroom.telford.gov.uk/News/Details/15623 |access-date=2021-02-04 |website=Newsroom |publisher=Telford and Wrekin Council |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128061021/https://newsroom.telford.gov.uk/News/Details/15623 |archive-date=2021-11-28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Bentley|first=Charlotte|title=Telford bridge renamed 'Cinderloo' after historic uprising|url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/telford/2021/02/01/telford-bridge-renamed-cinderloo-after-historic-uprising/|access-date=2021-02-04|newspaper=Shropshire Star|language=en}}</ref>

== References ==  {{reflist}}

== External links ==

* [https://cinderloo.com/ Cinderloo Remembered] * [http://www.dawleyheritage.co.uk/timeline/66/cinderloo-riots Dawley Heritage page]

[[Category:Riots and civil disorder in England]] [[Category:Labour disputes in England]] [[Category:1821 in England]] [[Category:Telford and Wrekin]] [[Category:History of Shropshire]] [[Category:Shropshire Yeomanry]]