'A WANT of GOOD FEELING' a Reassessment of the Economic and Political Causes of the Rural Unrest in Hampshire, 1830
Proc. Hampsh. Field Club Archaeol. Soc. 43, 1987, 237-254 'A WANT OF GOOD FEELING' A Reassessment of the Economic and Political Causes of the Rural Unrest in Hampshire, 1830 By BETHANIE AFTON ABSTRACT tension resulted in widespread unrest in Southern England. It began in June with an This article analyses the early nineteenth century arson attack in Kent. From there it spread, agrarian community in Hampshire at a moment of slowly at first, until, by December, few coun- crisis: the riots of 1830. The traditional relationships ties south of the Humber were left unaffected. within the community were put under pressure by a Hampshire, where the actual rioting lasted combination of post-war depression, overpopulation only ten days, from the 17th of November until and the introduction of new ideas and techniques. The the 26th, was one of the most severely affected resultant economic distress felt by a major part of counties (see Figs 1-2). On the 19th and 20th society, the small farmers, traders, craftsmen, and, of November a large mob from several parishes most of all, agricultural labourers, was ignited by roamed between Sutton Scotney and East political tension into an open, widespread revolt. The Stratton extorting money for food and beer, more modem industrial and* commercial attitudes from breaking agricultural machinery, and outside Hampshire were threatening traditional assaulting those who refused their requests. authority and subservience. The revolt was an early, On the 20th, Taskers Waterloo Iron Foundry tentative step out of the essentially rural community at Upper Clatford was severely damaged by a into modem industrial society.
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