Remembering Peterloo

Peterloo Memorial Service

St Chad’s, Rochdale’s ancient parish church, will be marking the anniversary of the Peterloo massacre with a simple ceremony to remember the dead and injured on Friday 16 August at 11.00am.

Revd Mark Coleman, Vicar of St Chad's and St Mary's in the Baum, says that the list of those injured on the 16 August 1819 lists two people with Rochdale addresses, Abel Ashworth of Church Stile, aged 37 and William Kershaw of Lower Place, aged 70.

Abel Ashworth was the son of John Ashworth and his wife Mary of Sheffield, baptised at St Chad's by Thos. Bellas, who was a curate in 1779. Abel was married to Betty Hartley at St Chad's on the 21 July 1801. He would have been aged about 40 years on 16 August 1819.

William Kershaw was baptised on the 8 April 1749. He was the son of William Kershaw and Susan. William Kershaw was buried at St Chad's on 1 August 1829, his address is given as Lower Place. His age at the time of the Peterloo massacre is given as 70. He survived ten years after the events of August 1819.

Revd Mark Coleman said: “We have not yet been able to locate the approximate area of the graves, as most grave stones have been moved over time.

“The short service of commemoration and thanksgiving will take place immediately outside St Chad’s, in the old church grave yard, where so many of Rochdale’s sons and daughters have been laid to rest.

“I am very grateful to Donald Fletcher for the research into this matter.

“It is right that we remember and give thanks for those who spoke out bravely for a fairer society and learn what we can so that we can avoid repeating injustices.”

All are welcome on Friday 16 August at 11.00am as flowers are laid to remember those who died or were injured and in particular the two who were injured and buried in St Chad's graveyard.