RIOT! and
Not Fit to Live in England – the
Selborne & Headley Workhouse Riots of 1830
John Owen Smith
See video of original 1993 Riot! production — Listen to the radio production of Not Fit to Live in England
During October 2002, a production of Riot! was on tour the Hampshire/Surrey border, including performances at Selborne and Headley – see details : During July 2017 Riot! was repeated – see details.
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Contains scripts of two plays:— 'Riot!' is a stage dramatisation of events which shook two villages in 1830 - originally run as a Community Play 'Not Fit to Live in England' was originally written for radio, later apapted as a one-act play for the stage RRP: £6.50
(incl. UK postage) Availability: Usually despatched by return of post |
Front cover: Artwork
from the original poster, 1993
Associated titles: One Monday in November – A Parcel of Gold for Edith
Reviews . Publisher's Comments . Introduction . Contents . Dramatis Personae . Excerpt . Riot website . Further information
"... a community triumph" (Alton Gazette)
"... not only informative, but also thoroughly entertaining" (Alton Herald)
"... left the audience wanting more" (Bordon/Haslemere Herald)
"... very alive" (Bordon/Petersfield Post)
The scripts relate to the so-called 'Swing' riots which spread through the
south of England in the year 1830, taking the particular happenings in the two
neighbouring Hampshire villages of Selborne and Headley as an example.
Suitable for schools or societies with an interest in this period of social
unrest.
One Monday in November in the year 1830, a mob several hundred strong attacked the workhouse in Selborne, Hampshire, turned out the occupants, burned or broke the fittings and furniture, and pulled down the roof. The next day an even larger mob, containing some of the Selborne rioters, did the same to the workhouse at Headley, some 7 miles away. The parsons in both villages were also coerced into promising to reduce by half the income they took from tithes.
Less than a month later, at a special court hearing in Winchester attended by no less a person than the Duke of Wellington, nine local men were sentenced to transportation (commuted from a death sentence in the case of eight of them), and all but one sailed for the antipodes in the Spring of 1831 never to return.
These are the bare bones of the story. But why did the riot start? Why were the two workhouses attacked? And why were some of the supporters and leaders of the mobs seen to be not oppressed labourers, but relatively well-to-do artisans and farmers?
In this play we cover the dramatic events of the two days and their aftermath, piecing together the sometimes contradictory reports and legends which have grown up during intervening years around the names and deeds of those involved in the action.
Introduction
Riot! (script)
Appendices to Riot!, including Production Notes
Not Fit to Live in England (script)
Dramatis Personae in Riot! (with correct ages in 1830 where known)William Cobbett, 60, radical author and politician
Henry Bone, 31, Selborne labourer
John Cobb, 27, Selborne labourer
Aaron Harding, 41, Selborne labourer
Thomas Harding, 32, Kingsley labourer (Aaron's brother)
John Heath, 45, Carpenter of Selborne (born in Headley)
Robert Holdaway, 37, Carpenter, wheelwright, hop-planter, publican of Selborne
Sarah Holdaway, 27, his wife
Henry James, 38, Brazier, tinman, knife-grinder, soldier
John Newland, 39, Selborne labourer (the 'Trumpeter' of Selborne)
Ann Newland, 32, his wife
James Painter, 36, Kingsley labourer
Matthew Triggs, 37, Bricklayer of Headley
William Triggs, Matthew's brother
Rev William Rust Cobbold, 54, Vicar of Selborne
Mrs Maria Cobbold, 54, his wife
Housekeeper of the vicar at Selborne
Charles Fitt, 72, Selborne farmer
Timothy Loe, 41, Clerk to Selborne vestry
John Harrison, Master of Selborne Poor House
Mrs Harrison, his wife
Harry Harrison, their son
Rev Robert Dickinson, 61, Rector of Headley
Mrs Maria Dickinson, 35, his wife
John Lickfold, 25, Shopkeeper of Headley
James Shoesmith, Master of Headley Poor House
Mrs Shoesmith, his wife
Eli Smith, Headley farmer
Mr Sparrow, a Visitor of the Poor at Headley
Mr Tend, foreman of decorators at Headley Rectory
Richard Rook, labourer of Headley
Mrs Budd, wife of the magistrate Henry Budd
Captain of 5th Dragoons, at The Anchor, Liphook
Mrs Dowling, Landlady of The Anchor, Liphook
Baron (Sir John) Vaughan, Chief Judge of Special Commission
Sir Thomas Denman, Attorney General at the trials
Usher, at the trials
Gaoler on the prison hulk York at Gosport
Narrators, Mob members, Bystanders, Soldiers, etc.
Singers, Musicians, as required
Several parts may be doubled
Scene 13 - Outside Selborne Vicarage, Monday 22nd November 1830
(The sound of the Trumpeter's horn is heard off-stage. Robert Holdaway enters at the head of the mob and stops outside the Vicarage gate.)
Holdaway Vicar Cobbold, are you at home?
(There are shouts from the mob.)
Harding Knock the gate down and drag him out.
Bone Burn the place down.
Cobb We should have done that at the werk'us.
Holdaway No mischief, I said. We can put a good case without causing a row.
(There are angry mutterings from the Mob. William Cobbold appears at his gate.)
Vicar Mr Holdaway, may I ask the meaning of all this?
Holdaway I think you know full well, vicar. We want a reduction in tithes and an increase in your contribution to the Poor Rate.
Vicar But you know the majority of the tithe goes straight to Oxford. I have no say in the matter.
Holdaway But six hundred pounds a year goes to you. How can you justify six hundred pounds a year when others around you in the village are out of work and whole families starving?
Vicar I contribute to the Poor Rate as much as any landowner in the village does.
Holdaway No other landowner in the village is taking in £600 a year. Will you reduce the tithes you take from the village?
Vicar By how much?
Holdaway By half. We think £300 a year is quite enough for you.
Vicar Impossible.
Holdaway Oh I think you'll find it possible vicar, if you think about it for a while.
(At this the Mob press forward. Holdaway raises his arm to stop them.)
Vicar Do I take it you are threatening me with violence if I do not comply? I am not a mere Poor House overseer you know.
Holdaway All the labourers in the village put together would not earn even £300 in a year. I suggest you act practically, Mr Cobbold. The farmers say they will pledge to pay higher wages if you sign a document to lower the tithes.
Vicar And what about shopkeepers and tradesmen such as yourself, Holdaway. You pay no wages to labourers - yet your tithes will also be reduced. No wonder I find you here leading this petition.
Holdaway We support those we do not employ, as you well know Mr Cobbold, by our contribution to the Poor Rate. Well, what do you say?
(Mutterings and movement from the Mob.)
Vicar (Looking anxiously at the Mob) It seems I am not in a position to offer much resistance. Very well, I will sign your wretched piece of paper ...
Holdaway Good.
Vicar ... to reduce my share of the tithes by a hundred pounds a year.
Holdaway The demand is three hundred.
Vicar Mr Holdaway, let us be sensible about this ...
(The Mob press forward again. Holdaway raises his arm again to stop them.)
... One hundred and fifty then. This is open robbery.
Holdaway Three hundred, Mr Cobbold.
Vicar Could you live on half your wages, Mr Holdaway?
Holdaway I could if they were as fat as yours.
Harding Living on half my wages wouldn't make no difference to me - half of nothing's nothing, even I can figure that out.
Cobb Same here.
(The Mob starts to crowd in and make threatening noises again.)
Vicar (Looking around) It seems your threats leave me with little choice, Mr Holdaway.
Holdaway Threats? We've issued no threats vicar, only reasonable argument.
(More threatening noises from the Mob. Harding tries to rush at the Vicar - Holdaway pulls him back.)
Vicar (Unsettled) You have me at a disadvantage. Three hundred it will have to be.
Harding We'll have that in black and white.
Vicar I will have the Churchwarden write out an agreement.
Cobb What about giving a bit more to the poor then, vicar?
Vicar I already give my fair share to the Poor Rate.
Harding Could you live on two shillings a day, vicar?
Cobb With a wife and six children to support.
Vicar As the Lord's representative, surely it is reasonable that I maintain a certain standard of living.
Holdaway Times change and standards with them, Mr Cobbold.
Vicar There I must disagree with you, Mr Holdaway. Standards must be upheld at all costs.
Holdaway At all costs, vicar?
Vicar Yes, at all costs.
Holdaway So you are not prepared to consider any increase in your contribution to the Poor Rate?
Vicar I am not, sir. You have already extorted enough from me today. I will yield no more.
Holdaway Well on your head be it. I will get the farmers here today to witness this agreement, and hope that it satisfies everyone.
Vicar And just remember, Mr Holdaway, that you will be seen as the leader of these lawless men. Whatever they do in the way of mischief will be held at your door.
Holdaway I thank you for your concern. And now we shall leave you in peace.
Harding (Shouting) Tomorrow we'll do Headley.
Cobb With Aaron's men.
Bone We'll smash the other werk'us.
Harding Burn it to the ground.
Cobb Kick the Shoesmiths out.
Bone Just like those Harrisons.
(There is considerable support from the rest of the Mob for this idea.)
Vicar I fear you are riding a tiger, Mr Holdaway. Good day to you.
(He retires into the Vicarage, closing the door)
Holdaway So much for the concern of the shepherd for his flock.
Harding What about that drink now Holdy?
Cobb Thirsty work, rioting.
Bone Let's take a collection.
Cobb From those with money.
Harding We'll need about £5 for a couple of drinks each.
Fitt (To Holdaway) It's all right Robert, the farmers will give £2 from the Poor Rate for drinks at The Compasses.
Holdaway From the Poor Rate?
Fitt Aye, that should buy them a pint each.
Holdaway Is this wise Charles?
Fitt We feel it's a way to show our appreciation without becoming too involved, in the eyes of the authorities.
Holdaway And before the mob demand it from you anyway.
Fitt Yes well, perhaps so Mr Holdaway, perhaps so.
Holdaway (Shouting to the mob) A pint for each of you at The Compasses - it's on the farmers.
(They exit towards The Compasses, followed by the mob.)
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