SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

I am being lazy and I wondered if anyone happens to know the location of the mill, I know it was on or near Water Lane, but I am trying to get the exact location. Unfortunately, I cannot get to the library as easily as I would like these days.

Hector wrote: I am being lazy and I wondered if anyone happens to know the location of the mill, I know it was on or near Water Lane, but I am trying to get the exact location. Unfortunately, I cannot get to the library as easily as I would like these days. Yes, the mill was Water Hall Mill and it was at the junction of Globe Road and Water Lane, just to the east of the Globe Foundry (in the centre of this map).

I thought my memory was shot, but I had a vague recollection that I had heard the name of that mill before.It was in one of my old school text books about the Chartists in 1842. It was the Plug Plot Riots and Strikes. The militant wing of The Chartists tried to enforce a national strike by knocking out the 'plugs' on steam engines that powered the mills and so disabled them encouraging the men out onto the streets.Here is the quote "On the morning of the 17th August 1842 the greatest excitement prevailed in leeds from a report that a vast number of rioters were on the road from Bradford. The town of Leeds was well organised with Troops and a large number of special constables had been sown in.. Meantime a large mob had assembled in Hunslet. They forced out the boiler plug and summoned the hands out of the mill of Messrs. E and G Tatham. They then proceeded to the mill of Messrs Titley, Tatham and Walker, Water lane which they were engaged in stopping when prince George with the Lancers came up at full speed and formed a line in Camp Field. The Riot Act was read and two of the ring leaders were taken prisoner."Interestingly here the cavalry were led by the son of the monarch and the Riot act was read. This was the excuse so that force could be used. Of course the crowd could not hear the reading of the act!That said as the horses lined up most of the Chartists would have scarpered! (Not that I am against the Chartists as we have most of the points of The Charter today!)

Many thanks Tasa and Samson, indeed the reason I was asking was because of the Chartists. There is av ery untersting account of events in the Northen Star, the Chartist newspaper.As well the Riot Act troops were also used and two pieces of artillery were brought down Water Lane.Just as an aside there were reports of armed men drilling on Woodhouse Moor in 1848 and the Chief Constable of Leeds had posters put around the town warning locals of the perils of drilling/ carrying arms in the street.

Interesting and often forgotten times.