The Pentrich Rising 1817

 

The Pentrich rising (1817), was a bit of a fiasco. The rising is said to have been instigated by an agent provocateur working for the government.

I read about it in E.P. Thompson's book 'The Making of the English Working Class.' The rebels believed themselves to be in the vanguard of a Rebellion that would see an army of men descend from the north of England who would assemble in Nottingham, which was to be made a regional centre of government. They would then march to London and set up a government.

One of the leaders of the Pentrich rising was the stocking maker Jeremiah Brandreth, from Sutton-in-Ashfield, who was executed for treason. After being hanged he was beheaded. Two other people, Isaac Ludlam and William Turner, were also hanged outside Derby goal. The men claimed they had been set up by Lord Sidmouth and 'Oliver the spy' and there may well be a great deal of truth in this.

Oliver was an informer for Lord Sidmouth and he was aware of the planned rising which could have been prevented. The TV presenter and former MP,  Gyles Brandreth, claims to be a descendant of Jeremiah Brandreth.