Members of the Museum’s 1831 Riots group attended a talk at the Shire Hall Museum in Dorchester, given by academics from the University of the West of England who have been researching the 1831 Riots in Dorset. The Shire Hall Museum building contains the old Dorset Assizes, the courtroom where the Blandford rioters were sentenced to hang by Judge Stephen Gasalee. The judge was known for prosecuting dissenters, radicals and reformers.
Dr Roger Ball and Prof Steve Poole talked about the unrest created by the marginal win in Dorset of a parliamentary candidate who was opposed to extending the rights to vote. Their research has discovered the names of some of the people involved and what happened to the men who were transported, after their death sentence was commuted in response to a local petition.
We are fortunate to be in touch with the descendants of one of the men, who live in Australia and who have done their own research into their ancestor Richard Bleathman.
The Blandford 1831 Riots group would welcome anyone interested in this social history project. We have plans to develop information for Museum visitors, to explain what happened in Blandford in that year, and what led up to it. One member of our group has already done extensive research but there is a lot more to find out and to share.
If you are interested in joining our group please contact Anne Quinney at annequinney1831@yahoo.com
