Aftermath
One of nine images from Red Saunders’ Hidden Peterloo Massacre Tableaux
The ‘Specials’, who battered their way around the assembly, joined the Manchester and Salford Yeomanry Cavalry, who slashed with sabres at the men, women and children. The magistrates directed the 15th Hussars Cavalry and the Cheshire Yeomanry Cavalry, with hundreds of soldiers, bayonet fixed, to support the local forces and to clear the area. The thousands were swept out of St Peter’s Fields within a short time. Those left in St Peter’s Fields were dead or severely wounded, shocked and traumatised.
The Peterloo Massacre
On August 16th 1819 tens of thousands of working people – men, women and children – walked from surrounding towns to the centre of Manchester to hear the call for the right to vote.
The local ruling class unleashed the constabulary and mounted Yeomanry on the peaceful crowd. At least 18 people were killed, including children, and around 650 were severely injured.
The Hidden Project shines photographic light on great moments in the long struggle of working people for democracy and social justice. The aim of the project, through reimagining those events, is to reproduce important historic scenes involving the dissenters, revolutionaries, radicals and non-conformists who have so often been hidden from history.
Red Saunders is a professional photographer who combines his photographic practice with cultural, musical and political activism. Images copyright Red Saunders 2019. Further information, reading list and full credit list of supporters and volunteers: www.hiddenpeterloomassacre.com . For further information hiddenproject@clara.co.uk
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