The Luddites of Liversedge

The world's only memorial to the Luddites was unveiled last weekend.

Two centuries after a group of mill workers tried to smash machines that were taking their jobs a memorial to their actions has been unveiled.

The group became known as Luddites.
They were croppers and used hand held shears to trim the nap from the cloth, but the new machines could do the work of four men.
Their livelihoods were now at risk.

They met at The Shears Pub in Halifax Road to plot their campaign against the mill owners, and on 12th April 1812 a band of 150 attacked Cartwright Mills, at Rawfolds, Cleckheaton with hammers and axes.
They were repulsed by the owner William Cartwright, who had fortified the building and had the help of militia.
Two men were shot and died, and many arrests were made.
17 men were later hanged for their part in the uprisings.

Spen Valley Area Committee paid for the statue, made by Pete Rogers and Alex Hallowes of Xceptional Designs. It is 8ft tall and made of stainless steel.
A fitting tribute to the croppers, showing defiance and protecting their families.

At the time there was a 90% collapse in the textile trade and sky high food prices due to poor harvests meant this became a struggle between labour and the factory system.

I took many photos some better than this, but chose this one because of the two people at the top left.
They were looking at the information board, and the older man in the flat cap was telling the younger all about how his grandfather worked in the mills, and he also,
So passing on the history of Spen Valley.

I think it is a wonderful statue, and hope you like it too, along with the story behind it.

There are several events commemorating the 200th anniversary.
go to www.luddites200blog.org.uk / huddersfield-luddites200-festival.