Bridport Bread Riots

Bridport’s bread riots were unusual for their times because they featured three female rioters. They were  Elizabeth Phillips (25), Susan Saunders (22) and Hannah Powell (21) and all three were twine spinners. Twine spinning was part of the rope making process. The riots took place on 23rd April 1816 when hundreds of Bridport people came onto the streets to protest against the high price of bread. In the previous twelve months wheat prices had doubled with the consequential effects on bread prices. This was caused by an extremely poor harvest. Wages were particularly low in Dorset and many men returning from the Napoleonic Wars could not find employment. The weather that year was bad such that the year became known as ‘eighteen hundred and freeze to death!’

Bakers were a particular target because they had a reputation for corruption. As it was usually the women who bought bread they probably knew which bakers overcharged and provided short measure. Some of the Bridport bakers had their windows broken while a number of the rioters carried sticks with bread loaves at the end. Striding down South Street towards the brewery, Elizabeth Phillips with three other women demanded bread from baker, William Dimond but he said he had none. Elizabeth responded:

‘Damn you, we’ll have your liver and lights out before midnight!’

Susan Saunders attempted to assault special constable, Robert Turner while Hannah Powell tried to prevent one of the ring leaders from being arrested. A 16 gallon cask of beer was taken by 16 year old William Fry from the cellar of brewer  Gundry and Co helped by others. The cask was taken to the centre of town and likely consumed.

Eight Bridport rioters were arrested, including the three women, and on Friday 2nd August 1816 they appeared before Justice Park in the Dorchester Courtroom. The jury was to come to a guilty verdict in a short time and the judge adjourned briefly before announcing the sentences. Around 15 years later, two North Dorset men would be sentenced to death for taking part in rioting in Blandford. In contrast, the sentences for the Bridport rioters ranged from three months for Elizabeth Phillips to 12 months hard labour for two of the men who had caused the most damage. All were also fined one shilling (5p) which allowing for inflation would be around £50 today. All three women were described as ‘orderly’ in Dorchester Prison. Hannah Powell and Susan Saunders were to live to over 80 years. It is believed that Elizabeth Phillips who was a married woman at the time of the Bridport riot lived to at least 60 years.

Clearly, if you were a rioter in the 1800s it was better to riot in Bridport than in Blandford!

(Credit: Bridport Museum.)