Swing Riots Day at The Spring
Old Town Hall, 56 East Street, Havant, Hampshire, PO9 1BS
On 18th November 1830, local agricultural workers, fed up with stagnant wages and increased costs, especially of food, rioted. Most of the focus of these riots was to smash up the hated threshing machines, symbols of the steady industrialisation of agriculture that threatened agricultural labourers winter income. Today we are celebrating and recording those events in play reading, talks and music.
The emphasis is usually on the actions and fate of the men involved in the Swing Riots and the impact on the women is often ignored. 100s of men were sentenced to Transportation leaving behind mothers, wives and children with no means of support.
What was the future for those women?
They often faced destitution especially when property, deemed to belong to the men, was confiscated.
Three women watch the ships leave Portsmouth, taking their menfolk on the long, dangerous journey to Australia. They reflect on what has happened, consider what their lives will be. They wonder how they can survive.
“The Women Left Behind” is written by Hampshire writer, Christine Lawrence, who will also talk after the reading about her inspiration and the research she undertook to write the play,
The performers are Liz Walsh, Sandra Holmes and Gail Morgan, and the performance is directed by Liz Weston.
Timings & Tours
- Thursday 18 September:
- 13:30
Location & directions
Old Town Hall, 56 East Street, Havant, Hampshire, PO9 1BS
- Directions:
- 700 bus to the old Post Office Carefully cross the road The main event is taking place in the Harrison Room upstairs A related small exhibition is in the corridor running directly away from the foyer at the rear Please inform the booking office of your arrival as this is a ticketed event
- Contact on day:
- Neil Spurgeon
- Telephone number:
- +447757271262
Booking information
- Pre-booking requirement:
- Pre-booking required
- Booking conditions:
- Numbers are limited Please book via the Booking Office, details below
- Booking contact name:
- The Booking Office, The Spring Arts and Heritage Centre, East Street, Havant PO9 1BS
- Booking telephone number:
- +442392472700
- Booking email:
- [email protected]
- Booking website:
- https://www.thespring.co.uk
- Booking opens:
- 01 Sep 2025 12:00 AM
- Booking closes:
- 18 Sep 2025 12:00 AM
Accessibility details
The room is up a steep flight of stairs but a stairlift is available. Time to use this should be built into your planning if you require it. Please ask for assistance at the booking office upon arrival
Additional information
This event will include the annual report to the people of Havant of the work of the local Swing Riots Research Group which is part of Captain Swing, the county wide preparations, in conjunction with The English Project at Winchester University (https://www.englishprojectcaptainswing.org/) to celebrate and mark the 200th anniversary of the 1830 Swing Riots and their aftermath, culminating in a Grand Assize in Winchester Great Hall in December 1830, when a number of local men were transported to spend their lives in Australia
- Max no of people per tour:
- 50
- Est. tour duration:
- 2 hour(s)
