Two hundred years ago, between 24 April and 3 May 1826, tens of thousands of working people in Pennine Lancashire and the West Riding of Yorkshire rose in protest.
Factories were raided, and more than 1,100 power looms were destroyed in what was the most serious outbreak of industrial sabotage since the Luddite disturbances of 1811-12.
This project features interactive maps and resources you can explore to discover the details of factories struck by the crowds, the destruction caused and the authorities’ decisive response. It also showcases historical records from The National Archives (UK) to raise public awareness of the weavers’ rising of 1826.
Launched to mark the 200-year anniversary of the rising, the project aims to contextualise this important moment in British history by making it easier to understand and engage with.
The interactive version of this map is hosted on an external site that does not yet meet our criteria for accessibility. In the meantime, we provide an accessible spreadsheet of all events featured on the map.
The project was undertaken in collaboration with The Open University.
Visit the interactive mapping project here