The peaceful demonstration at Peterloo turned violent when the Manchester and Salford Yeamonary and the 15th Hussars were sent in to disperse the crowd. Their orders came from William Hulton, landowner and magistrate.

On the walls of the Working Class Movement Library is a map owned by William Hulton. It shows the area surrounding St Peter’s Field’s, gives a description of the yeoman and cavalry’s movement that day and features his signature and name of his estate.

Click on this slideshow to view Hutton’s map

The Library also holds a wealth of other material on the Peterloo massacre including reports of the trial of radical orator Henry Hunt and others, eyewitness accounts, political cartoons and contemporary pamphlets. There are a few examples below and if you’re intrigued why not head up the road to the Working Class Movement Library and find out more.

Click on this slideshow to see more Peterloo material at the Working Class Movement Library