On Saturday 23 March 2019 People’s History Museum in Manchester will open an exhibition that tells the story that is at the very core of its being, and which represents a watershed moment in the history of our nation’s democracy. Disrupt? Peterloo and Protest begins with the telling of what happened on 16 August 1819, when 60,000 people gathered in the centre of Manchester in peaceful protest to seek rights and representation. Why representation meant so much, how this day would end in bloody violence, the actions carried out in the aftermath and the legacy 200 years later are all themes explored in the national museum of democracy’s exhibition.
Like the programme for the year, Disrupt? Peterloo and Protest takes visitors through the past, present and future of protest, beginning with the story of the Peterloo Massacre, which is told through original artefacts. PHM’s collection, newly acquired pieces, donations and loan items are brought together for the first time, some never having been on public display before, to tell this story in the year of the 200th anniversary of the Peterloo Massacre in The National Lottery Heritage Fund supported exhibition.
The working people of Manchester sought representation at a time when only around 2% of the population had the right to vote and Manchester did not have its own Member of Parliament (MP). Without representation they could not voice their concerns about falling wages and rising food prices. Yet those loyal to the government feared of the dangers they felt would be unleashed and the potential for revolution should rights be given to the working people, as the cartoon by George Cruikshank, Universal Suffrage or the Scum Uppermost (July 1819) highlights, to open the exhibition.
The fear that was felt by the authorities was heightened on Monday 16 August 1819, when after weeks of preparations, 60,000 people marched to St Peter’s Field, Manchester to hear radical orator Henry Hunt speak of the need for electoral reform. They travelled from across and beyond today’s Greater Manchester, some walking up to 30 miles, to be there. For two hours the authorities observed what took place, then the command came for the speakers to be arrested and the crowds to be dispersed.
The scene that unfolded as the local yeomanry drew their sabres is shown in a beautiful commemorative glass, whilst an oil portrait introduces Hugh Hornby Birley, who as captain of the Manchester and Salford Yeomanry, was the one who gave the orders for the local government forces to attack the crowds. Eyewitness reports also indicate that it was Birley himself who was responsible for many of the deaths and injuries of the men, women and children present.
The portrait, which has never been on public display before, has been donated to People’s History Museum (PHM) by Dr Rick Birley who says, “The failure of leadership, total lack of judgement, and a complete lack of experience, set against a basic class division and the need to uphold the establishment, led to the inexcusable violence. At a time when the masses relied upon the benevolence of the businessmen, the treatment they endured makes it little wonder that the cry of social reform and justice was becoming so loud during the 19th century.”
Of the 18 people that died, three were women, which is reflective of the fact that witnesses spoke of the yeomanry explicitly targeting them. The white dresses worn by the women of the reform movements, made them particularly easy targets, and as a result around a quarter of the 700 people injured were women, despite them making up only 12% of the protestors. Mrs Mabbott’s dress takes its place in the exhibition to represent some of the untold stories of the women of Peterloo. Mrs Mabbott herself wasn’t a protestor, but as the owner of a sweet shop on Bridge Street in the city centre, she was caught up in the chaos that swept across Manchester.
In the weeks and months that followed what was to become known as the Peterloo Massacre, commemorative pieces were made to mark what had taken place, two of which are included in the exhibition. The Skelmanthorpe flag spent much of its early life being hidden from the authorities because of the reform messages that it held. The Peterloo commemorative medal may have been carried by its owner to show support for the cause of reform, whilst being easy to hide from view. With a particularly hostile and angry wording on the medal, this is the only one known of its type.
The connection of Peterloo to lives today, and current activism and campaigning, is told through a film specially commissioned for the exhibition in which a range of contemporary and familiar voices share personal perspectives. These include actor and activist Maxine Peake, journalist and presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Greater Manchester Police Chief Inspector Tariq Butt and politician Angela Rayner MP.
The future of protest is placed in the hands of the individuals, communities and organisations for whom the exhibition’s Protest Lab has been conceived. This dynamic and highly active space will be used to create the campaigns of today, where individuals or groups can develop their ideas for collective action on contemporary live issues. The Protest Lab is also where an ever-evolving display of items will be exhibited that represents individuals’ expressions of creative disobedience and everyday activism, which have been submitted through open calls to the public.
Jenny Mabbott, Head of Collections & Engagement at People’s History Museum, says, “As the national museum of democracy we begin with the history of the Peterloo Massacre in our main galleries, from which so much of the evolution of our democracy stems. We’ve used this new exhibition to reflect and explore the story that led to and followed this tragic and pivotal moment in our history and, in doing so, we are acknowledging the sacrifices and time it sometimes takes to achieve change.”
PHM’s galleries cover over two centuries of the fight for representation; its visitors meet the revolutionaries, reformers, workers, voters and citizens who fought for rights and equality. Defining moments from Peterloo onwards are illuminated, including the suffragette movement and the development of the trade union movement, which were both born in Manchester, but were to define the lives of people all across Britain. The experience is enhanced for people of all ages with a host of interactive elements that make PHM one of Britain’s most Family Friendly museums.
People’s History Museum is open seven days a week from 10.00am to 5.00pm, Radical Lates are on the second Thursday each month, open until 8.00pm. The museum is free to enter with a suggested donation of £5. To find out about visiting the museum, its full exhibitions and events programme visit phm.org.uk.
A selection of images can be found here:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/d19lik3mjsuntvz/AADUdaOzwEUjVE03a0noAU5Ma?dl=0
For further information or to arrange a visit / interviews please contact Fido PR:
laura.sullivan@fidopr.co.uk / clare.short@fidopr.co.uk
0161 832 3588
Notes to editors:
About People’s History Museum (PHM)
People’s History Museum (PHM) in Manchester is the national museum of democracy, telling the story of its development in Britain: past, present, and future. The museum provides opportunities for people of all ages to learn about, be inspired by and get involved in ideas worth fighting for; ideas such as equality, social justice, co-operation, and a fair world for all. PHM offers a powerful programme with annual themes; 2018 looked at representation and commemorated 100 years since the first women and all men won the right to vote in Britain, 2019 sees a year of activities around protest movements to mark the bicentenary of the Peterloo Massacre in Manchester, and the programme for 2020 will be on the theme of migration and identity. Recent winner of Kids in Museums Family Friendly Museum Award.
About Arts Council England (ACE)
PHM is an Arts Council England (ACE) National Portfolio Organisation (NPO). The work of PHM is supported using public funding by ACE, the national development body for arts and culture across England, working to enrich people’s lives. ACE support a range of activities across the arts, museums and libraries – from theatre to visual art, reading to dance, music to literature, and crafts to collections. Great art and culture inspires us, brings us together and teaches us about ourselves and the world around us. In short, it makes life better. Between 2018 and 2022, ACE will invest £1.45 billion of public money from government and an estimated £860 million from the National Lottery to help create these experiences for as many people as possible across the country. artscouncil.org.uk
The National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF)
Thanks to National Lottery players, The National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) invest money to help people across the UK explore, enjoy and protect the heritage they care about – from the archaeology under our feet to the historic parks and buildings we love, from precious memories and collections to rare wildlife. heritagefund.org.uk. Follow NLHF on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLotteryHeritageFund.
Jenny Mabbott, Head of Collections & Engagement:
As Head of Collections & Engagement, Jenny is responsible for overseeing the way that PHM commemorates the 200th anniversary of the Peterloo Massacre. In addition to talking about PHM’s approach and collections, she can provide both the historical and contemporary context to Peterloo.
Michael Powell, Programme & Learning Officer:
Michael has worked with historians and communities to plan PHM’s programme of activity for 2019. He has also been responsible for developing the Peterloo 2019 learning resources in partnership with Manchester Histories. In addition to talking about the 2019 bicentenary, he can share this insight into the museum’s rich collections and archives and can talk about the Disrupt? Peterloo and Protest exhibition, its storytelling and interactive elements.
Mark Wilson, Exhibitions Officer
Mark’s role means that he has played a central role in the installation of Disrupt? Peterloo and Protest. The exhibition, like the main galleries at PHM, features a work by George Cruikshank. Mark curated PHM’s Savage Ink: The Cartoon & the Caricature exhibition in 2017/2018 and political cartoons are one of his areas of expertise, and something that he can talk about.
Dr Shirin Hirsch, Researcher:
Shirin is a Researcher at PHM and Lecturer in History at Manchester Metropolitan University. She is currently undertaking research on Peterloo and the global context of the early 1800s democracy movement in Manchester. Shirin can talk about the history of Peterloo as well as PHM’s objects and archive material from this period.
Kloe Rumsey, Conservator:
Kloe specialises in object conservation and cares for PHM’s whole collection, including banners, furniture, ceramics and posters. Kloe has conserved the artefacts on display in the Disrupt? Peterloo and Protest exhibition and can talk about these objects and their stories.
Sam Jenkins, Collections Officer:
Sam manages PHM’s whole collection, as well as arranging to borrow loans from other institutions as needed. She has worked with various museums to arrange loans of objects within the Disrupt? Peterloo and Protest exhibition, and has worked on collecting new items relating to the Peterloo Massacre. Sam can discuss each of the objects within the exhibition, as well as the wider museum collection.
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