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Beyond Peterloo: Elijah Dixon and Manchester's Forgotten Reformers
ELIJAH DIXON played a key role in the Blanketeer's March of 1817. Arrested, chained in double irons and imprisoned without trial, the episode set the stage for the Peterloo Massacre.
Everybody in Victorian Manchester knew of Elijah Dixon. Over a period of sixty years, he was an ever-present force in the tumultuous politics of the town. He worked alongside the great figures of nineteenth century Radicalism, and as 'The Manchester Man' he became the town’s ambassador for Chartism. An early apostle of votes for women, Temperance advocate, Christian convert, Dixon rose from poverty to make a fortune as Britain’s first mass-producer of matches.
In Beyond Peterloo, Robert Hargreaves and Alan Hampson bring Elijah’s previously overlooked yet vital contribution to social reform to life. Set against the backdrop of the Blanketeer’s March of 1817 and the Peterloo Massacre of 1819, they reveal the fascinating story of his life and work as Manchester’s forgotten reformer.
Everybody in Victorian Manchester knew of Elijah Dixon. Over a period of sixty years, he was an ever-present force in the tumultuous politics of the town. He worked alongside the great figures of nineteenth century Radicalism, and as 'The Manchester Man' he became the town’s ambassador for Chartism. An early apostle of votes for women, Temperance advocate, Christian convert, Dixon rose from poverty to make a fortune as Britain’s first mass-producer of matches.
In Beyond Peterloo, Robert Hargreaves and Alan Hampson bring Elijah’s previously overlooked yet vital contribution to social reform to life. Set against the backdrop of the Blanketeer’s March of 1817 and the Peterloo Massacre of 1819, they reveal the fascinating story of his life and work as Manchester’s forgotten reformer.
256 pages, Paperback
Published August 29, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 21, 2018
Beyond Peterloo – Manchester has always had a radical heart
When people think about radical Manchester in the 19th century, they always talk about Peterloo, and rightly so. They talk about the Pankhursts or the first meeting of Trades Union’s Congress, a proud industrial city. They forget about the many of Manchester’s forgotten reformers and their reform movements, such as the Blanketeers’ and the Chartists to name but a few.
Rob Hargraves and Alan Hampson have gone some way to change that, with this excellent book, Beyond Peterloo, highlighting one radical, people may have forgotten, but history has not, and he is more than a footnote. Elijah Dixon, often referred to as Manchester’s Ambassador, was a radical, who had been imprisoned for the Blanketeers’ march in 1817 and who took an active part in Manchester politics for over 60 years.
The book examines the many imbalances and injustices that provoked many Mancunians to react and demand a new political settlement. This demand would eventually lead to the Yeomanry slicing the people of Manchester down on St Peter’s Field in 1819.
What you learn from this book that Elijah Dixon was no political salon radical of privilege but was on the streets. He was at the centre of a network of political agitators, demonstrators, pamphleteers, a grassroots organiser. While others may have sat in nicely lit rooms with a polite audience, Dixon worked the slums, where the streets were mean and stray dogs went around, in packs for safety.
While the book may sound like it is looking at is gloom, the authors have managed to bring all the characters, those earlier reformers to life, from the serious to the comedic. There is also an appendix which gives pen portraits of some of the people mentioned within the book, some people are known but the majority are not.
As someone who has been active in investigating Manchester’s history this book will add to the historiography of the city. It will inform many, a starting point for other to begin their own research. Manchester has been crying out for this book for years and is a very welcome addition.
When people think about radical Manchester in the 19th century, they always talk about Peterloo, and rightly so. They talk about the Pankhursts or the first meeting of Trades Union’s Congress, a proud industrial city. They forget about the many of Manchester’s forgotten reformers and their reform movements, such as the Blanketeers’ and the Chartists to name but a few.
Rob Hargraves and Alan Hampson have gone some way to change that, with this excellent book, Beyond Peterloo, highlighting one radical, people may have forgotten, but history has not, and he is more than a footnote. Elijah Dixon, often referred to as Manchester’s Ambassador, was a radical, who had been imprisoned for the Blanketeers’ march in 1817 and who took an active part in Manchester politics for over 60 years.
The book examines the many imbalances and injustices that provoked many Mancunians to react and demand a new political settlement. This demand would eventually lead to the Yeomanry slicing the people of Manchester down on St Peter’s Field in 1819.
What you learn from this book that Elijah Dixon was no political salon radical of privilege but was on the streets. He was at the centre of a network of political agitators, demonstrators, pamphleteers, a grassroots organiser. While others may have sat in nicely lit rooms with a polite audience, Dixon worked the slums, where the streets were mean and stray dogs went around, in packs for safety.
While the book may sound like it is looking at is gloom, the authors have managed to bring all the characters, those earlier reformers to life, from the serious to the comedic. There is also an appendix which gives pen portraits of some of the people mentioned within the book, some people are known but the majority are not.
As someone who has been active in investigating Manchester’s history this book will add to the historiography of the city. It will inform many, a starting point for other to begin their own research. Manchester has been crying out for this book for years and is a very welcome addition.
March 4, 2019
Elijah Who? Never heard of the man, but in reading this book I discover why the wonderful Mr Dixon is now one of Manchester's forgotten reformers.
Rob Hargreaves and Alan Hampson have produced a most interesting and deeply researched biography of Dixon and his political contemporaries, telling of their largely forgotten struggles for social reforms through most of the nineteenth century.
I found this a fascinating book. I have relatives in my family tree that lived in Holmfirth, others that lived in New Cross and I myself grew up around New Moston, Hollinwood and Failsworth, all areas that this 2018 publication documents.
Some years back I joined a commemoration march to the site of Peterloo in Manchester, where actress Maxine Peake gave a speech. Only weeks ago I saw the film 'Peterloo' with Peake in the cast. 'Beyond Peterloo' has been published in time for the bi-centennial on August 16th 2019.
For anyone interested in the history of Manchester, this book is packed with fascinating details, alongside a biography of a great radical far advanced for his time.
Rob Hargreaves and Alan Hampson have produced a most interesting and deeply researched biography of Dixon and his political contemporaries, telling of their largely forgotten struggles for social reforms through most of the nineteenth century.
I found this a fascinating book. I have relatives in my family tree that lived in Holmfirth, others that lived in New Cross and I myself grew up around New Moston, Hollinwood and Failsworth, all areas that this 2018 publication documents.
Some years back I joined a commemoration march to the site of Peterloo in Manchester, where actress Maxine Peake gave a speech. Only weeks ago I saw the film 'Peterloo' with Peake in the cast. 'Beyond Peterloo' has been published in time for the bi-centennial on August 16th 2019.
For anyone interested in the history of Manchester, this book is packed with fascinating details, alongside a biography of a great radical far advanced for his time.
March 23, 2024
History lovers will lap this book up for two reasons. First, it reveals the life and work of a dedicated , but unheralded campaigner for social and political reform in 19th century Britain. Secondly because it shows that Radicals like him fought in all of them and worked across party lines on campaigns for the Vote, cheaperfood and againstthePoor Law. It's a sophisticated take on those times, although it gets bogged down at times in the details.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews