Peterloo Massacre tea towel

€16.80
100% Organic Cotton
Made in the UK
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  • Sturdy half panama unbleached US cotton (48cm x 70cm)
  • Our special inks mean that colours last in the wash
  • Includes hanging loop
  • Designed and manufactured in the UK
  • Delivery with Royal Mail, free on orders over £35
  • 100-day money back guarantee if you change your mind

‘Down with 'em! Chop em down my brave boys... Remember the more you kill the less poor rates you'll have to pay,’ the text on this tea towel reads, the reality in 1819 Manchester echoed.

On the morning of 16th August 1819, 70,000 gathered in St Peter's Fields, Manchester – half the population of the city. It was a peaceful rally to call for political reform: the crowds were in their Sunday best, displaying freshly painted signs, families had come with their children. So how did it become the bloodiest political clash in British history? Troops were sent in to disperse the crowds, armed with swords, leaving 18 dead in their path and more than 650 injured. It was a massacre, a horror felt across the country.

It was also a turning point in British democracy. Named the Peterloo Massacre (recalling the Battle of Waterloo), the infamous clash became a symbol of the struggle for democracy against state suppression and the fight of ordinary people for civil rights. Although it did not lead directly to parliamentary reform at the time, it left a mark on politics and political action, eventually leading to fairer suffrage. We remember it today as a reminder of our ongoing responsibility to stand up for democracy against tyranny.

 

Half Panama unbleached cotton (heavy weight, textured finish). Stitched on all four sides. Includes hanging loop. Measures approximately 48cm x 70cm. Machine wash at 40 degrees max. We recommend that before you use your tea towel for the first time you wash it at least once to soften up the material and make it more absorbent for drying dishes. Please note size can vary slightly.

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  • 5
    Peterloo teatowel

    Posted by Verity Murricane on 30th Nov 2021

    Great quality great reminder of need to challenge the forces of repression while you dry the dishes!