Predominantly centred on Hanley and Burslem, in what is now the federation of Stoke-on-Trent, the 1842 Pottery Riots took place in the midst of the 1842 General Strike, and both are credited with helping to forge trade unionism and direct action as a powerful tool in British industrial relations.
Cause
The riots took place against the back drop of the 1842 general strike, started by colliers in and around the Potteries, and part of the popular working class Chartist movement. The spark that lit both the general strike and Pottery Riots was the decision, in early June 1842, by W. H. Sparrow, a Longtoncoal mine owner, to disregard the law and fail to give the statutory fortnight's notice before imposing a hefty pay reduction of almost a shilling a day on his workers. The men went on strike and soon surrounding colliery workers began showing support. The strike cause was championed by Chartists, who called for a general strike across the Potteries. However, by the end of July strikes were endemic across north Staffordshire and were spreading, notably in south east Lancashire.
Events
As the strike spread it gained the attention of the Chartist movement. On 13 August prominent Chartist orator Thomas Cooper arrived in Hanley and was given lodgings by coffee shop owner Jeremiah Yates. On Monday 15 August 1842, Thomas Cooper, gave a speech at Crown Bank in Hanley, decreeing: "that all labour cease until the People's Charter becomes the law of the land." John Ward states what happened next in his 1843 book: Later on the 16th, Thomas Powys, a Burslem magistrate and deputy lord lieutenant of the county, ordered troops to fire on a procession of strikers in Burslem Square. read out the Riot Act. 4-5,000 protestors marched with a band from Leek to join the local people in Burslem. The marchers arrived and began to stone the dragoons. Powys then ordered troops, based at the Leopard Inn, to fire on the strikers in Burslem Square. Josiah Heapy, was killed and many more men and women were wounded. Heapy was 19 years old and born in Quarnford, Staffordshire. He was an orphan. His mother had died when he was 3 years old and his father when he was 11 years old. He moved to Leek and worked as a shoe maker. Heapy was shot in the head in front of the “Big House” on Moorland Road and died instantly. Josiah Heapy's funeral was arranged at St. Edward’s, Leek on 18 August and apparently led to no disorder. Although there has been local speculation, the location of his grave has not been found. A verdict of Justifiable Homicide was given.
Aftermath
A total of 274 people were brought to trial in the special assizes that followed, of whom 146 were sent to prison and 54 were transported. John Ward names those deported. By the end of 1842 the county police force had been established and the first chief constable appointed. This did not dent the popularity of trade unionism though. The Miners' Association of Great Britain and Ireland was formally established on 7 November 1842. The United Branches of Operative Potters was born on 6 September 1843. On 28 April 2018 a plaque was unveiled in Swan Square, Burslem in honour of Josiah Heapy.
