The Hexham Butchers: When a Conscription Law Led to Carnage in Northumberland

The year is 1761. Britain is embroiled in the Seven Years’ War, a global conflict that demanded vast numbers of soldiers. To bolster its forces, the government had recently passed the Militia Act of 1757. This act sought to reform the ancient militia system, moving away from voluntary service and paid substitutes to a more organized, but deeply resented, system of conscription by ballot.

For the working people of England, particularly the lead miners of Northumberland, this new law was an affront. The prospect of being forcibly separated from their families and livelihoods, sent to fight in distant wars, was terrifying. The ballot felt like a lottery with only one losing ticket. Tensions simmered across the country, and in Northumberland, they reached boiling point.

March 9th, 1761: A Day of Destiny

On that fateful Monday, a large crowd, primarily composed of angry lead miners from Alston Moor and other surrounding areas, converged on Hexham Market Place. Their intent was clear: to protest the upcoming militia ballot and make their voices heard. They were not, at this point, an armed mob, but a determined assembly of citizens demanding justice.

However, the local magistrates, led by the formidable Sir Lancelot Allgood, were prepared for trouble. They had summoned the North Yorkshire Militia, a regiment of armed soldiers, to maintain order.

As the crowd swelled and the cries of protest grew louder, the situation quickly deteriorated. Accounts vary on the exact trigger. Some suggest a militiaman was shot first, others describe an escalating exchange of threats and missiles. What is certain is that after the Riot Act was read (a legal requirement before force could be used against an unlawful assembly), the situation spiraled out of control.

The Massacre in the Market Place

With terrifying speed, the North Yorkshire Militia opened fire on the unarmed or poorly armed crowd. The confined space of the market place became a killing field. Men, women, and even children caught in the crossfire fell to musket balls.

The scene was one of unimaginable chaos and carnage. Panic set in as people desperately tried to flee, trampling over each other in their terror. By the time the firing ceased, the cobblestones were stained with blood.

The immediate aftermath was horrific. Over 50 protestors lay dead or dying, their lives brutally cut short by the very forces meant to protect them. Many more suffered grievous wounds, some of whom would later succumb to their injuries. The North Yorkshire Militia, in that single, terrible afternoon, earned a chilling and enduring nickname: “The Hexham Butchers.”

A Stain on History

The Hexham Riot remains a stark reminder of the social inequalities and harsh realities of 18th-century Britain. It highlights the desperate measures ordinary people would take to resist oppressive laws and the brutal lengths to which authority would go to suppress dissent.

Today, if you walk through Hexham Market Place, it’s hard to imagine the horror that unfolded there. The tranquil beauty of the Abbey and the bustling market belie a history marked by this tragic event. The Hexham Riot stands as a powerful testament to the human cost of conflict, both on the battlefield and in the heart of a community simply fighting for its rights.