The Parish of Westhoughton in the County of -- Lancashire --

This is taken from the Westhoughton Journal, 1938.

Unemployment in Westhoughton in 1840
(Extract from ‘The Wingates Messenger’ by John Coop)

The people were miserably poor, more so if possible than at any other time in the town’s existence. Circumstances were very much against them. The whole country was passing through a period of great distress, and it seems to have been as keenly felt in Westhoughton as in any other part of the country. From 1831 to 1851 the population of Westhoughton increased by only 47, being an annual increase of one twentieth of one per cent; Lostock increased by 14 during the same period, the figures being:- Lostock 1831-606; 1851-620; Westhoughton 1831-4,500; 1851-4547.

At the time of which we are writing, 283 silk looms and 240 cotton looms were standing idle; 840 persons were in receipt of parish relief, and the ‘poor rate’ stood at 8s.3d in the £.

The rateable value was about £10,000. Flour cost 4s.0d a dozen pounds, sugar 8d per lb., and other common necessaries were priced in proportion. Worse still, some of them were of very poor quality.

Payment by Service

Paying rates in cash was out of the question for many of the cottagers, and they discharged their obligations by working off their share of the ‘lays’ (rates) by working on the highways as labourers. When men worked for nothing they had to “tighten their straps” (the leather belt worn around their waists), to lesson the area of hunger. Matters were in a desperate condition, and it is no surprise that loyalty to the powers that be, rapidly evaporates.

These men joined the Chartist movement in large numbers. The physical force section of the Chartists attracted Wingates men. They were Radicals to the core, and impatient of slow Whiggish methods. Hunger is a strong stimulant, and physical force seemed to offer the most speedy realization of their aims, so they never hesitated but set vigorously to work. The local blacksmith was kept busy manufacturing spikes.

He charged a shilling for each forging and grinding them ready for use. The spike was fastened to the end of a staff about 4 feet long, and was no mean weapon. A newly planted nursery opposite Blue Bell Cottages was plundered for timber from which to make the staves. The Chartists certainly ruined this plantation for the trees have ever since been of a weak and sickly looking character. The Chartists, moreover, gave is a name, for from that time forward it was known as the ‘Radigil Plantation”.

Many of these men had acquired considerable readiness of speech on the temperance platform, and they used their persuasive powers to incite their fellows to revolt. Their speeches breathed vengeance and defiance of those in authority. The revolutionary spirit did not infect every man, many holding aloof for various reasons. Adam Howarth for instance, managed to persuade several of their folly by sending them bags of potatoes…a very potent argument to be addressed to a hungry man!

Two Hundred Arrested

About the middle of August 1839, a detachment of the Yeoman Cavalry together with the aid of the local constables arrested about 200 of the men. It would appear that the Cavalry had been called very hastily together, as they had very little of the regulation dress upon them. As they passed through the streets with the prisoners in groups, they were hailed by the women as ‘Peterloo heroes’ and ‘Soldiers in clugs’ and were favoured with other uncomplimentary remarks.

The Governments of sixty years ago adopted expedients not greatly unlike those Governments adopt today, when they wish to delay legislation upon matters they have no leaning towards. They appointed a commission to inquire into the condition of the unemployed handloom weavers in the U.K. This commission took a great deal of evidence, and in 1841 they made a long report. But misery and want stalked along…in despair the Chartists advocated a general cessation from labour for a month called ‘the sacred month’ and also ‘Benbow Holiday’.

Benbow was a publisher of Chartist literature, and one of the tracts he published advocated this month’s holiday as a panacea for the evils of the day.

In order to enforce this holiday, what was known as plug drawing was resorted to. Boilers were constructed with a lead or iron plug, which could easily be removed. The water was let out, fires drawn and the machinery was stopped. But the lawlessness was carried further than the leaders had desired. No respect was paid to gates, fences and roads. The leaders became disgusted and the effort collapsed with one day’s mischief.

This was the end of Chartism in Westhoughton in 1842.