An old engraving of the the Spa Fields riots outside the Tower of London, London, England, UK in 1816. It is from a Victorian history book of The Spa Fields riots were arose out of two mass meetings at Spa Fields, Islington, on 15 November and 2 December 1816. The meetings were by a group of revolutionary Spenceans, addressed by popular radical Henry Hunt. The second meeting was followed by rioting, during which the group hoped to seize power by taking the Tower of London and the Bank of England. Soldiers refused to hand over the Tower of London and the rioters dispersed.
An old engraving of the the Spa Fields riots outside the Tower of London, London, England, UK in 1816. It is from a Victorian history book of The Spa Fields riots were incidents of public disorder arising out of two mass meetings at Spa Fields, Islington, England on 15 November and 2 December 1816. The meetings had been planned by a small group of revolutionary Spenceans, who invited the popular radical speaker Henry Hunt to address the crowd. The second meeting was followed by rioting, during which the group hoped to seize control of the government by taking the Tower of London and the Bank of England. The rioters raided a gunsmith's shop and exchanged gunfire with troops at the Royal Exchange. Other incidents took place at Snow Hill and Minories, but after soldiers refused to hand over the Tower of London the rioters dispersed. Leading Spenceans, John Hooper, Thomas Preston, Arthur Thistlewood and James Watson, were arrested and charged with high treason. Watson was tried first and the chief prosecution witness was discredited and Watson was acquitted, at which point the prosecution presented no evidence against the other defendants and all four were released.
Size: 4252px × 3325px
Location: Tower of London, London, England, UK
Photo credit: © M&N / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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