The Stretford area

Thomas Joseph Trafford

Thomas Joseph Trafford. Illustration printed in H. T. Crofton, History of the Ancient Chapel of Stretford in Manchester Parish, including Sketches of the Township of Stretford together with Notices of Local Families and Persons, (1899-1903). Trafford Local Studies Collection cat. ref. 96282711.

Thomas Joseph Trafford, the son of John and Elizabeth Trafford, née Tempest, was born in 1778 near Chorley, Lancashire. He came from a prominent family that could trace its lineage back to the eleventh century. He owned Trafford Hall and a large amount of land in the Stretford area.

At the time of Peterloo, Trafford was the Major in charge of the newly formed Manchester and Salford Yeomanry, which had come into being just two years before. The Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire, the Earl of Derby, had briefed Trafford to ready the troops for unrest.

Daniel Kennedy, a journeyman cutler, received sixty-three sabres from the Yeomanry with instructions that they should ‘be made very sharp’.

On 16 August 1819 Trafford and his troops were stationed in Pickford’s Yard just off of Portland Street in Manchester. However, when a note asking for assistance was received from the city’s magistrates, Trafford did not accompany his troops to the field. Instead, his second-in-command Hugh Birley took charge. It was Birley who faced much of the backlash after the event, although Trafford resigned as commander the following year.

Trafford Hall, undated. Trafford Local Studies Collection, cat. ref. TL1733.

The Manchester and Salford Yeomanry

The Manchester and Salford Yeomanry reached the crowd in Peter’s Field before the Cheshire Yeomanry and 15th Hussars. They were the first to charge in on horseback with their sabres raised and have been heavily criticised by historians and contemporary commentators alike.

H.T Crofton's A History of the Ancient Chapel of Stretford lists thirteen Stretford men who were members of the Manchester Yeomanry.

Although it was close to Manchester centre, Stretford at this time was still a rural village. It was well known for its pig-killing industry and was nicknamed ‘Swineopolis’, ‘Porkhampton’ and ‘Black Pudding Junction’. After the events at Peterloo, the Manchester Yeomanry were referred to as butchers, but as we can see from H. T. Crofton’s list, this was literally the case for several of the men from Stretford.

As soon as Mr. Hunt was secured, followed a scene so truly bloody and horrific, that no pen or tongue (were the Earl of Chatham now living) could paint in its true colours. Without reading the Riot Act, which that despicable sycophant, Mr. Aston, has the unblushing impudence to assert was read; without the usual notice to disperse, if it was read; - and without ceremony did they dash in upon this peaceable and defenceless multitude. So indiscriminate was the attack, that these lambs literally put to death one of the Special Constables, and wounded many more. So eager did they appear to display their zeal in the preservation of the peace, and to come in contact with unarmed men and defenceless women.

- Manchester Observer, 21 August 1819