1850 Unruly Protest Yeadon
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Title
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Unruly Protest Yeadon |
| Date |
June 1850
|
| Location |
Yeadon |
Photo ID
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V111 Image courtesy of the
British Newspaper Archives, research by Edwy Harling |
| Comment |
"Yeadon Disgraceful
Proceedings
This place has been in an unusual degree of excitement
caused by the rigid proceedings of a newly elected constable named
Rawlinson, against the prevailing vices of this neighbourhood.His endeavour
to stop gambling in the public streets on Sunday and also late drinking at
public houses are certainly very commendable however disagreeable to the
parties concerned ; but although his zeal is great it is questionable whether
he always uses it with prudence. At all events his conduct has been
followed by some shameful proceedings on the part of those who he has
offended. On Wednesday evening they paraded the town with an image on
horseback being the effigy of the constable, followed by a mob of between six
or seven
hundred persons. On the arrival of the mob opposite Mr
Rawlinson's house a fire was kindled and the effigy committed to the
flames, amidst yells and imprecations.
But a few evenings since the
whole of the trees and plants in the constable's garden were maliciously
torn up and destroyed. We hope the offenders will be brought to
justice"
Further text by Christine Lovedale:
See also image V091 for a
report of similar vandalism in 1851. Joseph Lawson, in his book "Letters to
the Young on Progress in Pudsey", had a poor opinion of Yeadoners writing
that no work would be done from Saturday afternoon until Tuesday morning as
workers would be sleeping off the excesses of the weekend. He viewed Yeadon
as a town of drunkards and coarse people.
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