The Pentrich Revolution 1817

The Pentrich and South Wingfield Revolution Group was established in February 2014, to increase awareness of the 1817 Pentrich Revolution, also known as the Pentrich Rising, and to establish a permanent legacy of this little known but important historical event.

The Pentrich rising was an armed uprising in 1817 that began around the village of Pentrich, Derbyshire, in the United Kingdom. It occurred on the night of 9th/10th June 1817. While much of the planning took place in Pentrich, two of the three ringleaders were from South Wingfield and the other was from Sutton in Ashfield. The 'revolution' itself started from Hunt's Barn in South Wingfield, and the only person killed died in Wingfield Park.

A gathering of some three to four hundred men (stockingers, quarrymen and iron workers), led by Jeremiah Brandreth (The Nottingham Captain), set out from South Wingfield to march to Nottingham. They were lightly armed with pikes, scythes and a few guns, which had been hidden in a quarry in Wingfield Park, and had a set of rather unfocused revolutionary demands, including universal male suffrage, annual parliaments the wiping out of the National Debt.

They did not realise that their group had been infiltrated by a government spy, William J. Oliver, and the uprising was quashed soon after it began. Three men were hanged and beheaded at Derby Gaol for their participation in the uprising: Jeremiah Brandreth, Isaac Ludlam and William Turner.

Stay connected with us through our Facebook Page for updates and news, and join our Facebook Group to engage with other history enthusiasts and share your thoughts about the Pentrich Revolution.