An ill-fated

venture

On 9th June 1817, over 300 men set out for Nottingham from villages on the Derbyshire-Nottinghamshire border.

They thought they were part of a ‘general rising’ to bring down an unjust and oppressive government. Motivated by poverty and hunger, all efforts to gain a hearing suppressed, and having no vote, many saw an armed revolt as the only alternative.

Unbeknown to them, Oliver the spy’ a government agent provocateur had encouraged the armed revolt. Rebel leaders had already been arrested and only a handful would take up arms in Huddersfield and Nottingham. The Derbyshire men were to be used as an ‘example’ to others.

Ambushed by troops, the marchers fled and many were arrested. At their trial in Derby, three - Brandreth, Ludlam and Turner - were sentenced to death, to be hanged then beheaded. Fourteen were transported to penal colonies in Australia, others imprisoned. Their families were evicted and homes destroyed.

Join the Revolution…

Celebrate the bi-centenary of this momentous local event.

See Page 4 for more information

Spring 2 2017 1st edition February 2017 Free

At a time of high unemployment and extreme poverty amongst

the labouring classes the Pentrich Revolution in June 1817 was

one of the last popular risings against a repressive government

fearful of an English version of the French Revolution. Although it

failed it was representative of a rising tide of radicalism in the 19th

Century which eventually resulted in universal emancipation, the

rise of the trade union movement and fairer employment laws.

In 2017 we will be celebrating the bi-centenary of this

momentous local event with a guided commemorative walk

through South Wingfield on Friday 9th June. There will also be an

International Conference at Derby University on this day. This will

be followed by a celebration event held on Saturday 10th June at

South Wingfield Social Club including excerpts from a play by the

Big Adventures Theatre Company which tell the story of the

rising. There will also be the opportunity to visit Wingfield Manor

on this day.

We have devised a series of local walks following the route taken

by the revolutionaries across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire

and a series of information boards will be placed along the route.

[ See Page 2.] There will also be a series of Awareness raising

exhibitions and art exhibitions themed around the Pentrich

Revolution. There will be permanent exhibitions at Ripley Town

Hall and Ripley Fish & Chips ( formerly Crest of the Wave ). A

summer exhibition of contemporary artefacts at Pickford House in

Derby is being organised by Derby Museum. This will be followed

by an Exhibition at The Galleries of Justice in Nottingham during

the autumn. There will also be smaller travelling exhibitions at

libraries in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire in local communities

connected with the rising.

In the autumn we hope to work with local schools on a living

history project incorporating video and other media.

Walk with us through history We are proud to launch our series of walks.

Heanor Walk - Feb 13th - Walk at 1pm From Heanor Baptist Church. DE75 7QL Including Awareness Exhibition 10-4.

South Wingfield Walk - April 22nd - Walk at 1pm From South Wingfield Social Club. DE55 7LX Including Awareness Exhibition 10-4. Fritchley Walk - April 23rd - Walk at TBA From Fritchley Congregational Church. DE56 2FW Including Awareness Exhibition TBA

Bank Holiday Awareness Exhibition 10-4 at The Village Inn Marehay. DE5 8JF

Pentrich Walk - April 29th - From Pentrich Village Hall at TBA DE5 3RE

Heage Walk - April 30th - From Heage Windmill - Walk at TBA DE56 2BH

Ripley Walk - May 1st - From Ripley Market Place - Walk at 1pm DE5 3HA

Alfreton Walk - May 6th - Walk at 1pm From Abraham Lincoln Library, Alfreton District Heritage Trust, Rogers Lane. DE55 7FF Including Awareness Exhibition 10-4. Swanwick Walk - May 7th - Walk at 2pm From Swanwick Church, The Green. DE55 1BL Including Awareness Exhibition 12.30-5.

Codnor Walk - May 13th - Walk at 10am From Car park opposite Poet & Castle DE5 9QY Including Awareness Exhibition 10-4. Langley Mill Walk - May 14th - Walk at 2pm From Bunny Hop 19 Cromford Road NG16 4ED Including Awareness Exhibition and barbecue10-4. Nottingham Walk - May 14th - Walk at 10am From The ‘left’ lion Market Square NG1 2JS Including a talk by Prof. John Belcham on May 13

th

Eastwood Walk - May 20th - Walk at 10am From Sun Inn NG16 3NT Including Awareness Exhibition 10-4.

Continued on Page 3 �

Check out the black spider letters on the website!

Derby Walk - May 27th - Walk at 10am from Guildhall Market Place DE1 3QE Including Awareness Exhibition 10-4. Sutton in Ashfield Walk - May 28th - Walk at 1pm From The Idlewells Centre NG17 1BP Including Awareness Exhibition 10-4. Giltbrook Walk - May 29th - Walk at 10am from IKEA Car Park NG16 2RP Including Awareness Exhibition 10-4. Venue TBA

4th June - a re-enactment walk following the full route of the rebels march from various venues to Giltbrook

Heanor walk - 13th June – Walk at TBA From Heanor Market Square DE75 7 Including talk by Michael Parkin and Exhibition at Wilmot Street Community Centre DE75 7EF

It all started with a very big bang… see the website for more details!

Several organisations including Derbyshire County Council and many District and Parish Councils are

lending both financial and practical support to this celebration. Trades Unions ( GMB and Unite ) have

also offered their support and many local companies have provided goods and / or services free of

charge.

To confirm times and details follow us

on our website or on facebook.

www.pentrichrevolution.org.uk

www.facebook.com/pentrichrevolution

For further information or to become a member of the Pentrich and South Wingfield

Revolution Group please contact Valerie Herbert valerie.mherbert@yahoo.co.uk

In the next Issue… find out more about Jeremiah Brandreth – the ‘Nottingham Captain’.