An Interesting Grave.

This is the resting place of William Winterbourne, ( also known by his mother's name of Smith) in Kintbury Church Yard, Berkshire.  He was the only Berkshire man to hang for taking part in the Swing Riots of 1830 in which hundreds of agricultural labourers protested against low wages and the introduction of threshing machines which threatened their livelihoods.  The Swing rioters broke machines and demanded money but nobody was assaulted.  The vicar of Kintbury at the time pleaded for Winterbourne's life and after the hanging had his body brought back to Kintbury and buried in a prime position in the church yard, an unusual honour for a hanged man.  (Note the recently placed bouquet at the foot of the gravestone).