A talk by Garry Atterton on 14 April 2026. Report by Stan Morrissey.
Garry Atterton’s talk didn’t create a riot, but it was very illuminating. Garry is a retired teacher and researcher into Bristol’s social history.
The Bristol Riots of 29-31 October 1831 are said historically to be due to a drunken mob. Garry questioned this, saying that they were ordinary people rebelling, for many reasons, against the powers of the ruling classes in the city. The outcomes were a terrible loss of life and destruction of buildings but – with similar protests in many parts of the country – they did lead to major changes in the voting system of the country.
Garry reminded us that there are few written records of lower-class views – history is viewed from a middle/upper class perspective, newspapers, original drawings and paintings, all inaccessible to most of the working class.
Discontent was grounded in the availability of the vote. Rotten boroughs abounded, where a very small village returned one MP while large cities may have had only two. A substantial Reform movement existed but had limited influence. Cities, including Bristol, were ruled by unelected influential wealthy landowners and merchants.
Three people dominated the Bristol story. Sir Charles Wetherell (our Villain) was a village MP and a Judge who presided over the Assizes through irregular visits to the city. He was totally against any reform of the system and denied that there was any “Reform fever” in Bristol. William Herepath (our Hero) was in favour of Reform and tried to block Wetherell from excesses. He was vice-president of the Bristol General Union which campaigned for better living conditions and for a wider vote. In the middle was Charles Pinney, the recently appointed (not elected) Mayor, who was a farmer with interests in the West Indies and slave trade. He was well-intended but with limited influence.
In October 1831 the long-disputed Reform Bill was thrown out by the Lords (as now, an unelected body). This led to widespread protests though apparently not (yet) in Bristol. Wetherell was due to attend the Assizes, and trouble was anticipated so security was increased by recruiting ‘special constables’, who were untrained in dealing with crowds. Many refused to attend and those that did were mostly young Tories who didn’t like any working class aspirations. Herepath announced that Wetherell should cancel his visit and resign as Recorder. Wetherell arrived in Totterdown earlier than stated but still met by a hostile crowd of some 2000.
Constables surrounded his carriage as defence against a crowd who threatened to throw him into the river and women who booed, threw mud and urged their menfolk on. Theres seems to have been little violence at this stage, The escorted carriage proceeded to the Guild Hall but, due to the disturbance, the Court session was cancelled and Wetherell was taken to the Mansion House in Queens Square. More people, mainly women and children, gathered, and the Constables began to panic, hitting out at individuals.
Pinney, as Mayor, spoke to the crowd but they were not placated and the Riot Act was read. Wetherell escaped through a window. Constables attacked the crowd, who responded and the army were called in.
Now a new person appears. Colonel Brereton, who was sympathetic to the crowd’s views, ordered his 14th Hussars to clear the streets. At this time a bystander some distance from the centre of the disturbances was shot and killed. Troops were quietly withdrawn and most councillors and staff went home. Pinney remained, but the crowd reformed and attacked so he escaped before they broke into the Mansion House. They did much damage and stole 400 bottles of wine (probably seen as their greatest sin!). Another group burned down Bridewell Jail, where prisoners taken earlier had been confined. Yet another went to the Bishops Palace and Cathedral (Bishop Carey was anti-Reform), where they destroyed books and furniture.
By next morning, many Bristol citizens came out to prevent further damage but were told to go home as creating more problems than they solved. Brereton withdrew his Dragoons again and was cheered as a sympathiser (that must have gone down well with the authorities). Herepath led his followers to Cumberland jail to prevent attacks but was too late as the jail was burned down and the prisoners (largely criminals, not rioters), were released.
The next day, Monday, showed a much damage around the city with buildings destroyed and looted. Penney appealed to Brereton to take decisive action but was refused. Records show 12 deaths and 96 wounded. Other reports are of some 250-500 deaths, so figures are clearly unreliable. Who was to blame? 200 people were secured (and many more released by the mob), but few had direct Reform connections, and many were not even Bristolians. The usual suspects were accused – the Kingswood Colliers, the Welsh, the Irish, the French – but there was no evidence of organisation, just spontaneous gatherings and opportunistic violence.
In 1834 a trial was set up. Wetherell was even invited to preside but wisely declined. 81 people were convicted or riotous behaviour. 27 were transported and 5 executed. Pinney and the corporation were exonerated from any blame. Brereton was court-marshalled and later shot himself.
The Great Reform Act was eventually passed in 1832 by a Whig government and reforms slowly applied. Rotten boroughs were abolished; city MPs were increased and the vote extended to about one in eight adult males with property qualifications. Mostly middle class, and no women, but it was a start. In Bristol, with 59032 inhabitants, 6385 votes (one in nine) were increased to 10309 (one in six). Further reforms came later, but it was clear that popular protest (not a drunken mob) had had its effect.