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200 years ago tonight, military forces based at Dumbarton Castle launched a raid on the village of Duntocher.
For the past 2.5 years, myself & @CHRYSOTILEmice have been researching the events of that night, as well as those leading up to it, and the aftermath.
For the past 2.5 years, myself & @CHRYSOTILEmice have been researching the events of that night, as well as those leading up to it, and the aftermath.
Today we were scheduled to give our first presentation on the work we've done, at the 200 Years of the Radical War symposium at the Trades House in Glasgow.
Obviously the current situation means the event has been postponed.
Obviously the current situation means the event has been postponed.
However, this weekend, myself, @CHRYSOTILEmice and @UofG1820 will be tweeting out some snippets of the Duntocher Radicals story.
We'll also be happy to answer any questions that we can
We'll also be happy to answer any questions that we can
First question I should probably anticipate: our logo has 22-23 May on it - we've not mixed up our dates!
This date is when we are scheduled to give a talk at Dumbarton Library. As of yet, this hasn't been cancelled/postponed, but we'll see how things go.
This date is when we are scheduled to give a talk at Dumbarton Library. As of yet, this hasn't been cancelled/postponed, but we'll see how things go.
Some context on Duntocher at the turn of the 19th century.
The village had a population of around 250 in 1808 - this is probably not far off the capacity of one of the pubs which presently stand on its Main Street.
The village had a population of around 250 in 1808 - this is probably not far off the capacity of one of the pubs which presently stand on its Main Street.
In 1808, the only industry to speak of in Duntocher was a delapidated cotton mill, and an ironworks. The arrival of industrialist William Dunn was the catalyst for change in the village's fortunes
@UofG1820
@UofG1820
Dunn's impact on not only Duntocher but the surrounding area was immense: buying up the individual pieces of land between Duntocher and the River Clyde, Dunn essentially founded the modern day town of Clydebank
But Dunn's remarkable story is for another day.
Back to the Radicals, and that sign outside the pub... @CHRYSOTILEmice
Back to the Radicals, and that sign outside the pub... @CHRYSOTILEmice
On 1 April 1820, a Proclamation signed by "The Provisional Government" was nailed to the side of James Bryson's public house. It called for (amongst other things) workers to strike in the name of political reform.
@UofG1820
@UofG1820
On Monday 3 April 1820, the mills around Duntocher were silent, as the workers either stayed or were kept away.
For the rest of this story, and more details on the #DuntocherRadicals see the official @UofG1820 account, where myself and @CHRYSOTILEmice will be tweeting throughout the day
