This series takes a look at British protests in the late 18th and early 19th century which have been dubbed ‘riots’. Each episode seeks to understand what sparked a particular outbreak of collective disturbance, who exactly was involved, how disorder was handled by those in authority, the way in which riots were talked about and reported on, and what changed in their wake. Artistic and literary responses to protest will also be explored. Thought will also be given to how riots have been remembered in official accounts and popular memory and the way in which historiographical approaches to outbreaks of protest have changed over time. These aspects will be tackled in discussion with historians and scholars of art, literature and culture who work in the field.
The Gordon Riots, 1780 / Reading the Riot Act #1
