The Altrincham area

Sir John Fleming Leicester. Illustration from F. Leary, The Earl of Chester's Regiment of Yeomanry Cavalry: its formation and services 1797 to 1897, (Ballantyne Press, 1897). Trafford Local Studies Collection, cat. ref. 95213260.

The Cheshire Yeomanry were headed by Sir John Fleming Leicester: a close friend of the Prince Regent.

Yeomanry troops were volunteers, although their arms and ammunition were paid for by the government. Leicester’s officers consisted of factory owners and landowners, whilst the other ranks were innkeepers, saddlers, smiths and similar tradesmen. All men needed to have the use of a horse. 

On 15 July 1819, Sir John Byng, supreme commander of Britain’s northern forces, asked Sir John Leicester to ready his troops in preparation for the reformers’ meeting (the meeting was originally planned for 2 August but was pushed back). By the time that the meeting had been pushed back again to 16 August, Sir Leicester had left the Cheshire Yeomanry in command of Lieutenant Colonel Townsend. Of the troops that Byng requested to attend, five troops were yeomanry cavalry from Altrincham and Knutsford.

They [the magistrates] have resolved to Disperse the Assembley immediately on its formation, and if the exertions of the Police are not sufficient, the Military will be called in, and act vi et armis. If any thing like resistance be offered the consequences may be truly terrific.

- The Perthshire Courier, Thursday 12 August 1819

At 9am on 16 August 1819, the Cheshire Yeomanry gathered at Sale Moor before advancing towards Manchester. This eyewitness account gives an indication of their actions on the day:

My attention was called to another movement coming from the opposite side of the meeting. A troop of soldiers, the 15th Hussars, turned round the corner of the house where we stood and galloped forwards towards the crowd. They were succeeded by the Cheshire Yeomanry, and lastly by two pieces of artillery. On the arrival of the soldiers, the special constables, the magistrates, and the soldiers set up loud shouts. This was responded to by the crowd with waving of hats. After this the soldiers galloped amongst the people creating frightful alarm and disorder. The people ran helter-skelter in every direction . . . when it had subsided a startling scene was presented. Numbers of men, women, and children were lying on the ground who had been knocked down and run over by soldiers.

- Eye witness account of John Benjamin Smith (a local businessman and later the first Treasurer of the Anti-Corn Law Association) published in Three Accounts of Peterloo, (University of Manchester Press, 1921)

Special Constables

The Old Market Place, Altrincham, undated. Altrincham Court House was originally located above the butter market, in what is now called the Old Market Place. Trafford Local Studies Collection, cat. ref. TP5620.

On 10 August 1819, a meeting was held in Altrincham Court House to discuss the upcoming meeting. George Harry Grey, the 6th Earl of Stamford and Warrington, acted as Chairman. At this time the Earl was the Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire and, as such, was responsible for peace and good order in the county.