Following an Act of Parliament, a Plan to Widen and Improve the River Witham Was Commenced

BARDNEY RIOT

Version 2 14-02-2014

Following an Act of Parliament, a plan to widen and improve the River Witham was commenced in 1814. Work started near Southrey, where a corner in the river was being straightened out. It has been suggested that up to 900 Navvies, or Bankers, were employed for this task. Bardney had a population of 814 at the 1811 Census.

Some of these men, and women, were lodging in both Southrey and Bardney. Lodgings included nearby farms, barns and outbuildings, and some on crafts on the river itself. ---oOo---

On Friday 5th May 1815, following a bread delivery from Edmond’s bakery at Wragby, a dispute arose around the increasing price of the bread and other ‘necessities’, causing an altercation between William Buck, the leader, and the baker. William Buck, along with Robert Cook, John Kitchen, Michael Hart (Hard), Thomas Ward, William Parker, William Stringer, George Waite and Thomas Dunkley, read out a list of their grievances. As a consequence, some of the mob started to break into houses, damaging windows and stealing provisions.

This incited the current labour force of over 500, into a full-scale riot, which started in the Plough Inn, on the west bank of the river Witham, which lasted for two days. A huge crowd of men drove the landlord away from the public house, entered the premises, removing all the barrels from the cellar, and drank all the beer. They took the inn sign down, took the baker’s bread basket and crossed the river and on to the main street of the village. The drunken mob pelted the baker with his own bread and hung the sign in a tree top. They then unleashed their fury on the Bottle & Glass Inn, which received the same treatment as the Plough. They consumed all the beer and knocked out the ends of the barrels.

The mob then forged up to the Angel Inn, which was run by Mr Benton, the landlord. Quick-thinking Mr Benton rolled his beer barrels outside the public house, thus preventing any damage to his premises. Several private dwellings were entered and occupiers

Navvies cutting the River Witham Date: Unknown Photo: June Benton surrendered any belongings to the mob, in fear of injury and damage. A constable was alerted, and being heavily outnumbered, quickly took safe refuge in the almshouses. Thirteen constables were sent for from Horncastle, but they were also found to be ineffective and had to go home again. By Sunday the riot was totally out of control.

of 2 Word of the skirmish was eventually received in Horncastle, Spilsby and Louth, from where additional constables and troops of cavalry arrived. They were accompanied by the Rev. John Mounsey, of Gautby, who proceeded to read the Riot Act.

The troops quickly restored order and arrested forty of the ringleaders, who were taken into custody at Horncastle, where they appeared before Thomas Coltman, Richard Elmhurst and the Rev. Mounsey (Magistrate of Horncastle). The nine ringleaders were arrested and taken to the House of Corrections at Louth, all accused of riotous behaviour.

During the melée, it was reported that one of the constables was so badly injured, that he later died from his wounds.

The trial took place at the Quarter Sessions in Spilsby, and they appeared on Friday 21 st July 1815, before a bench of Magistrates, with Thomas Coltman of Hagnaby Priory as Chairman. William Buck was the first to appear and for his part in the riot he was ordered to be imprisoned at Kirton for a year. John Kitchen and William Parker were charged with the same offence and each received a six month sentence and ‘to find securities’, whilst William Stringer and George White, again for the same offence, were imprisoned for twelve months each at Kirton. But Michael Hart (or Hand); Thomas Ward; Robert Edmonds and Thomas Dunkley, although charged with rioting, were acquitted.

By: David Letts, David Miles & June Benton (BHG)

Sources: Lincolnshire, Rutland & Stamford Mercury 1814 & 1815 (various editions). Bury and Norwich Post, Wednesday 24th May, 1815, page 4, column 4. Fens & Floods of Mid Lincolnshire: James Sandby Padley 1882. Chris Page & Rob Wheeler: Society for Lincolnshire History & Archaeology (SLHA).