Luddites

For Liversedge Sparrow Park {see Projects} the Society has commissioned the creation of a statue to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the luddite troubles in Spen Valley. As far as the Society can tell it will be the only statue to the luddites in the entire world.

It was in late 1811 when luddites in the West Riding started to organise in a semi military fashion and began attacking certain mills to destroy machinery. In February 1812 they attacked wagons at Hartshead which were delivering shearing frames to the mill of William Cartwright at Rawfolds.

But their most notorious adventure began on the night of 11th April 1812 when over 100 men marched from the Dumb Steeple at Cooper Bridge to Cartwrights Mill, intent on breaking in and smashing the hated shearing frames.

To read more about the luddites in Liversedge follow this link.

The statue and information board at Sparrow Park was unveiled on April 14th 2012.

This aspect of Sparrow Park is funded by the Area Committee of Kirklees Council.