16
Theo Robertson Parrswood High School
Peterloo Streaks of red lit the new-born sky, not a cloud was in sight to kiss the expanse of heaven. The summer’s dawn was beginning, as honeyed light slathered the hive. It was barely morn, yet humble souls were spinning and weaving, shovelling and hammering, grasping England’s heart with both soot-covered hands and pulling her and pushing her to glory.
I turned my face away from the dawn and down at my filthy feet. Deciding between buying food and buying shoes is an easy choice to make, especially when your last meal was last week. I started what had now become my morning routine. Knock, knock and knock again, on every door, up and down the cobblestone streets, pleading for work. There had been more competition recently, more dirty feet tapping on the cobbles. People were noticing, adding to the long list of grievances. There were murmurs before. Then the murmurs turned to growls.
Of course, London knew when to bring out the muzzle. Stamped on that wellworn leather: The Riot Act 1714
The hard leather had held, and over the past few years any attempt at protest was silenced. Yet that hadn’t stopped us. Another meeting was today - St Peter’s Field.
Already I knew this would be big, and as I walked onto Quay Street headed towards the centre of my city I was joined by more and more of Manchester’s citizens. On a hot summer’s day like this, something may catch fire.
But there were no shouts of fury as we all marched along. No cries of revolution, nor baying for royal blood. Instead, a silence saturated our journey, and we were joined by more and more, cotton spinners, bakers, purse pinchers and shoemakers. Carpenters, fishmongers, weavers and dreamers all rubbed shoulders, and walked with stoic determination toward the square. And what a square. Thousands upon thousands of souls came into view as our humble procession disintegrated, its members spotting friends and acquaintances gathered on the field. Many groups had already formed, each with their own reason to congregate. As I had come on my own, and as I was quite early, I spent the morning wandering the huge field, marvelling at the different types of people gathered there. People and children sat and lay, enjoying the marvellous weather.
