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Merthyr Rising

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377: 217: 368:, the riots reached their peak. However, panic had spread to the family oriented and peaceful town folk, who had now started to flee what was an out-of-control town. With the rioters arranging a mass meeting for Sunday 6th, the government representatives in Penydarren House managed to split the rioters' council. When 450 troops marched to the mass meeting at Waun above Dowlais with levelled weapons, the meeting dispersed and the riots were effectively over. 309:, 'Lewis the hunter') marched there to demand a reduction in the price of bread and an increase in their wages. The demands were rejected, and after being advised to return to their homes, attacked the inn. Engaged by the Sutherland Highlanders, after the rioters seized some of their weapons, the troops were commanded to open fire. After a protracted struggle in which hundreds sustained injury, some fatal, the Highlanders were compelled to withdraw to 36: 142: 453:, said that a man called Ianto Parker had given him a death-bed confession, saying that he had stabbed Donald Black and then fled to America fearing capture by the authorities. James Abbott, a hairdresser from Merthyr Tydfil who had testified at Penderyn's trial, later said that he had lied under oath, claiming that he had been instructed to do so by 260:, took to the streets of Merthyr Tydfil, calling for reform, protesting against the lowering of their wages and general unemployment. Gradually the protest spread to nearby industrial towns and villages and by the end of May the whole area was in rebellion, and it is believed that for the first time the 331:
For eight days, Penydarren House was the sole refuge of authority. With armed insurrection fully in place in the town by 4 June, the rioters had commandeered arms and explosives, set up road-blocks, formed guerrilla detachments, and had banners capped with a symbolic loaf and dyed in blood. Those who
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Following this reprieve, the Grey ministry was determined that at least one rebel should die as an example of what happened to rebels. The people of Merthyr Tydfil were convinced that Richard Lewis (Dic Penderyn) was not responsible for the stabbing, and 11,000 signed a petition demanding his
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presented a petition to the House of Commons calling for Dic Penderyn to be posthumously pardoned, stating that there was "strong feeling in Wales that Richard Lewis - Dic Penderyn - was wrongly executed."
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After storming Merthyr town, the rebels sacked the local debtors' court and the goods that had been collected. Account books containing debtors' details were also destroyed. Among the shouts were cries of
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to Australia when one of the police officers who had tried to disperse the crowd testified that he had tried to shield him from the rioters. He was transported aboard the vessel
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dispatched to Merthyr Tydfil to restore order. Since the crowd was now too large to be dispersed, the soldiers were ordered to protect essential buildings and people.
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had military experience had taken the lead in drilling the armed para-military formation, and created an effective central command and communication system.
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By 7 June the authorities had regained control of the town through force with up to 24 of the protesters killed. Twenty-six people were arrested and put on
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On 1 June 1831, the protesters marched to local mines and persuaded the men on shift there to stop working and join their protest. In the meantime, the
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Since 2013, a music festival named after the rising has been held annually in Merthyr to promote working class culture and social justice in arts.
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In 2015, stylist Charlotte James and photographer Tom Johnson published a series titled Merthyr Rising, showcasing residents of the town.
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Ambushing and disarming the Swansea Yeomanry on the Swansea Road, and throwing them back in disorder to
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for taking part in the revolt. Several were sentenced to terms of imprisonment, others sentenced to
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included a song about the Merthyr Rising, entitled "Cheese and Bread", in the 2018 album
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were under siege in the Castle Hotel, and the protesters effectively controlled Merthyr.
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This allowed them to control the town and engage the formal military system, including:
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The Welsh Academy Encyclopedia of Wales. Cardiff: University of Wales Press 2008.
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Ambushing the 93rd's baggage-train on the Brecon Road, under escort of 40 of the
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On 2 June, while local employers and magistrates were holding a meeting with the
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Beating off a relief force of 100 cavalry sent from Penydarren House.
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was used a symbol of working class rebellion in the United Kingdom.
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Lewsyn yr Heliwr's sentence was downgraded to a life sentence and
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release. The government refused, and Richard Lewis was hanged at
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and the surrounding area. The Rising marked the first times the
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contained two poems about Dic Penderyn and the Merthyr Rising.
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Throughout May 1831 the coal miners and others, who worked for
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Graffiti in Merthyr Tydfil showing a person raising a red flag
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Having sent messengers, who had started strikes in Northern
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Organising a mass demonstration against Penydarren House.
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at the Castle Inn, a group led by Lewis Lewis (known as
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of revolution was flown as a symbol of workers' revolt.
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Old Merthyr Tydfil: Dic Penderyn and the Merthyr Rising
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celebrates Richard Lewis. Radical singer-songwriter
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Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. 292:had ordered in the army, with contingents of the 1018: 556: 27:Violent labour protest in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales 751:"Lewis, Richard ('Dic Penderyn'; 1807/8-1831)" 586: 294:93rd (Sutherland Highlanders) Regiment of Foot 386:, executed after the Merthyr Rising, outside 316:Some 7,000 to 10,000 workers marched under a 722:The Cardiff Five: Innocent Beyond Any Doubt 611:"1831: the Merthyr Rising and Dic Penderyn" 516: 487: 412: 406: 381: 304: 280: 274: 714: 712: 508:Musical Theatre society in February 2022. 140: 608: 559:"The Merthyr Riots: Settling the Account" 120:Learn how and when to remove this message 850: 486:' song "Dic Penderyn" on his 1972 album 401:to Australia, and two were sentenced to 375: 215: 709: 343:, and drove them into the Brecon hills. 313:, and abandon the town to the rioters. 14: 1019: 976: 924: 634: 718: 434:in 1832 and died 6 September 1847 in 1062:William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne 806: 745: 477: 449:In 1874, a Congregational minister, 58:adding citations to reliable sources 29: 1057:Working class in the United Kingdom 24: 538:Trade unions in the United Kingdom 25: 1073: 1052:Riots and civil disorder in Wales 1004: 925:Mallon, Steve (3 December 2015). 834:"Merthyr Rising Festival - About" 563:National Library of Wales Journal 411:) for Robbery and Richard Lewis ( 154:during the Merthyr Rising of 1831 725:. Waterside Press. p. 182. 34: 970: 944: 918: 888: 870: 851:Williams, Logan (25 May 2019). 844: 826: 800: 774: 693:"1831: Merthyr Tydfil uprising" 184:Lowering of wages, unemployment 45:needs additional citations for 739: 685: 662:"Dic Penderyn (Richard Lewis)" 654: 641:International Marxist Tendency 628: 602: 580: 550: 13: 1: 977:Atashi, Shara (9 July 2022). 853:"Keeping the Red Flag Flying" 756:Dictionary of Welsh Biography 543: 251: 197: 807:John, Lucy (14 March 2022). 592:"A history of Welsh protest" 7: 635:Attard, Joe (2 June 2020). 609:Reddebrek (31 March 2015). 526: 150:depicting people raising a 10: 1078: 514:The 2022 poetry anthology 371: 228:, also referred to as the 900:University College London 761:National Library of Wales 517: 506:University College London 460: 382: 301:High Sheriff of Glamorgan 279:('cheese and bread') and 267: 206: 193: 188: 180: 167: 159: 139: 134: 557:Gwyn A Williams (1959). 285:('down with the king'). 838:Merthyr Rising Festival 719:Sekar, Satish (2012). 488: 413: 407: 390: 305: 281: 275: 221: 981:Gwrthryfel / Uprising 672:on 15 September 2015. 379: 219: 590:(25 November 2011). 446:on August 13, 1831. 428:penal transportation 399:penal transportation 148:Hablot Knight Browne 54:improve this article 906:on 18 February 2022 451:the Rev. Evan Evans 438:, New South Wales. 18:Merthyr Rising 1831 878:"Cheese and Bread" 502:Bloomsbury Theatre 498:Ballad of a Wobbly 391: 341:Glamorgan Yeomanry 222: 958:. 26 January 2016 896:"My Land's Shore" 732:978-1-904380-76-4 596:BBC Blogs - Wales 478:In creative works 282:i lawr â'r Brenin 214: 213: 130: 129: 122: 104: 16:(Redirected from 1069: 1037:June 1831 events 998: 997: 995: 993: 974: 968: 967: 965: 963: 948: 942: 941: 939: 937: 922: 916: 915: 913: 911: 902:. Archived from 892: 886: 885: 874: 868: 867: 865: 863: 848: 842: 841: 830: 824: 823: 821: 819: 804: 798: 797: 795: 793: 778: 772: 771: 769: 767: 743: 737: 736: 716: 707: 706: 704: 703: 689: 683: 680: 674: 673: 668:. Archived from 666:100 Welsh Heroes 658: 652: 651: 649: 647: 632: 626: 625: 623: 621: 606: 600: 599: 584: 578: 577: 575: 574: 554: 520: 519: 491: 418: 410: 408:Lewsyn yr Heliwr 403:death by hanging 385: 384: 311:Penydarren House 308: 306:Lewsyn yr Heliwr 284: 278: 258:William Crawshay 202: 199: 146:Illustration by 144: 132: 131: 125: 118: 114: 111: 105: 103: 69:"Merthyr Rising" 62: 38: 30: 21: 1077: 1076: 1072: 1071: 1070: 1068: 1067: 1066: 1017: 1016: 1007: 1002: 1001: 991: 989: 975: 971: 961: 959: 950: 949: 945: 935: 933: 923: 919: 909: 907: 894: 893: 889: 876: 875: 871: 861: 859: 849: 845: 832: 831: 827: 817: 815: 805: 801: 791: 789: 780: 779: 775: 765: 763: 747:Williams, David 744: 740: 733: 717: 710: 701: 699: 691: 690: 686: 681: 677: 660: 659: 655: 645: 643: 633: 629: 619: 617: 607: 603: 585: 581: 572: 570: 555: 551: 546: 529: 480: 463: 405:– Lewis Lewis ( 374: 366:Swansea Valleys 270: 254: 200: 176: 155: 126: 115: 109: 106: 63: 61: 51: 39: 28: 23: 22: 15: 12: 11: 5: 1075: 1065: 1064: 1059: 1054: 1049: 1044: 1039: 1034: 1029: 1015: 1014: 1006: 1005:External links 1003: 1000: 999: 969: 943: 931:Crack Magazine 917: 887: 869: 843: 825: 799: 788:. 30 June 2015 773: 738: 731: 708: 684: 675: 653: 627: 601: 588:Phil Carradice 579: 548: 547: 545: 542: 541: 540: 535: 528: 525: 479: 476: 462: 459: 455:Lord Melbourne 444:Cardiff Market 436:Port Macquarie 388:Cardiff Market 373: 370: 358: 357: 354: 347: 344: 269: 266: 253: 250: 238:Merthyr Tydfil 236:population of 226:Merthyr Rising 212: 211: 208: 204: 203: 195: 191: 190: 186: 185: 182: 178: 177: 173:Merthyr Tydfil 171: 169: 165: 164: 161: 157: 156: 145: 137: 136: 135:Merthyr Rising 128: 127: 42: 40: 33: 26: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1074: 1063: 1060: 1058: 1055: 1053: 1050: 1048: 1047:Coal in Wales 1045: 1043: 1040: 1038: 1035: 1033: 1030: 1028: 1027:1831 in Wales 1025: 1024: 1022: 1012: 1009: 1008: 988: 984: 982: 973: 957: 953: 947: 932: 928: 921: 905: 901: 897: 891: 883: 879: 873: 858: 854: 847: 839: 835: 829: 814: 810: 803: 787: 783: 777: 762: 758: 757: 752: 748: 742: 734: 728: 724: 723: 715: 713: 698: 694: 688: 679: 671: 667: 663: 657: 642: 638: 631: 616: 612: 605: 597: 593: 589: 583: 568: 564: 560: 553: 549: 539: 536: 534: 533:List of riots 531: 530: 524: 522: 512: 509: 507: 503: 499: 495: 490: 485: 475: 472: 468: 458: 456: 452: 447: 445: 439: 437: 433: 429: 424: 422: 417: 416: 409: 404: 400: 396: 389: 378: 369: 367: 363: 362:Monmouthshire 355: 352: 348: 345: 342: 338: 337: 336: 333: 329: 327: 323: 319: 314: 312: 307: 302: 297: 295: 291: 290:Grey ministry 286: 283: 277: 265: 263: 259: 249: 247: 243: 239: 235: 234:working class 231: 230:Merthyr Riots 227: 218: 209: 205: 196: 192: 187: 183: 179: 174: 170: 166: 162: 158: 153: 149: 143: 138: 133: 124: 121: 113: 102: 99: 95: 92: 88: 85: 81: 78: 74: 71: –  70: 66: 65:Find sources: 59: 55: 49: 48: 43:This article 41: 37: 32: 31: 19: 990:. 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Retrieved 566: 562: 552: 515: 513: 510: 497: 494:David Rovics 484:Meic Stevens 481: 467:Welsh Labour 464: 448: 440: 431: 425: 415:Dic Penderyn 392: 383:Dic Penderyn 364:, Neath and 359: 334: 330: 315: 298: 287: 271: 255: 229: 225: 223: 116: 107: 97: 90: 83: 76: 64: 52:Please help 47:verification 44: 910:18 February 326:ironmasters 322:magistrates 276:caws a bara 1042:Food riots 1032:1831 riots 1021:Categories 702:2018-10-05 697:libcom.org 573:2021-08-12 544:References 521:/ Uprising 518:Gwrthryfel 380:Plaque to 252:Beginnings 189:Casualties 110:April 2013 80:newspapers 992:11 August 979:"Review: 471:Ann Clwyd 465:In 2015, 201: 24 181:Caused by 163:June 1831 962:25 March 936:25 March 882:Bandcamp 862:25 March 818:25 March 792:25 March 646:25 March 620:25 March 569:(2): 124 527:See also 318:red flag 262:red flag 246:red flag 207:Arrested 194:Death(s) 168:Location 152:red flag 857:Tribune 504:by the 421:bayonet 372:Outcome 175:, Wales 94:scholar 766:4 June 729:  615:LibCom 489:Gwymon 461:Legacy 268:Events 96:  89:  82:  75:  67:  395:trial 351:Neath 242:Wales 101:JSTOR 87:books 994:2023 964:2022 938:2022 912:2022 864:2022 820:2022 794:2022 768:2018 727:ISBN 648:2022 622:2022 432:John 324:and 224:The 160:Date 73:news 786:BBC 469:MP 240:in 56:by 1023:: 985:. 954:. 929:. 898:. 880:. 855:. 836:. 811:. 784:. 759:. 753:. 749:. 711:^ 695:. 664:. 639:. 613:. 594:. 567:XI 565:. 561:. 457:. 423:. 210:26 198:c. 996:. 966:. 940:. 914:. 884:. 866:. 840:. 822:. 796:. 770:. 735:. 705:. 650:. 624:. 598:. 576:. 353:. 123:) 117:( 112:) 108:( 98:· 91:· 84:· 77:· 50:. 20:)

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Merthyr Rising 1831

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Hablot Knight Browne
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Merthyr Tydfil

working class
Merthyr Tydfil
Wales
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William Crawshay
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Grey ministry
93rd (Sutherland Highlanders) Regiment of Foot
High Sheriff of Glamorgan
Penydarren House
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magistrates
ironmasters

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