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A monumental sculpture commemorating the Preston Strike and Lune Street Riot on 12 and 13 August during the 1842 General Strike, also called the Plug Plot Riots. Four workers died between one and four days later as a result of injuries received from being shot. The sculpture depicts three of the protestors, one female and two males, confronted by a row of four soldiers firing their rifles. The strike was led by the Chartist movement protesting about unemployment, low wages, and poor working conditions. In Preston, a large meeting of protesting unemployed factory workers turned out the workers at mills and factories. The authorities brought in the 72nd Regiment to quell the riot, but confrontation led to the the soldiers shooting protestors.

Title

Monument to the Victims of the Riots of 13th August 1842 (Chartist Memorial)

Date

1992

Medium

stone

Measurements

H 224 x W 786 x D 437 cm;
Plinth: H 50 x W 803 x D 440 cm

Accession number

PR1_SB_S005

Acquisition method

commissioned and funded by Preston Borough Council, Lancashire County Council, Preston Polytechnic, North West Arts, Preston Trades Union Council and Preston Labour History Group

Work type

Monument

Owner

Preston City Council

Custodian

Preston City Council

Work status

extant

Unveiling date

13th August 1992

Access

at all times

Inscription description

bronze plaque attached to one of the short sides of the base: PRESTON WORKERS' MEMORIAL COMMITTEE / THIS PLAQUE IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF THOSE WORKERS WHO WERE / SHOT AND KILLED ON OR NEAR THIS MONUMENT ON SATURDAY 13TH AUGUST 1842 / DURING THE CHARTIST LED STRIKE IN ORDER TO SECURE A FAIR DAY'S PAY FOR A FAIR DAY'S TOIL. / BERNARD MCNAMARA AGED 17 GEORGE SOWERBUTTS AGED 19 / WILLIAM LANCASTER AGED 25 / JOHN MERCER AGED 27 / OTHER WORKERS WERE ALSO SERIOUSLY INJURED AND WERE UNABLE TO EVER WORK AGAIN. / DEDICATED ON SATURDAY 25 APRIL 2009 TO COMMEMORATE THIS EVENT. / REMEMBER THE DEAD, FIGHT FOR THE LIVING / DONATED BY MWR SOLICITORS; raised letters on three plaques attached to one of the long sides of the base, left plaque: REMEMBER REMEMBER, PEOPLE OF PROUD PRESTON / THAT PROGRESS TOWARDS JUSTICE AND DEMOCRACY / HAS NOT BEEN ACHIEVED WITHOUT GREAT SACRIFICE. / REMEMBER, REMEMBER PEOPLE OF PROUD PRESTON / TO DEFEND VIGOROUSLY THE RIGHTS GIVEN TO YOU. / STRIVE TO ENHANCE THE RIGHTS OF THOSE WHO FOLLOW; centre plaque: PRESTON & DISTRICT WORKERS' MEMORIAL DAY COMMITTEE / 28th APRIL 2006 / THIS PLAQUE IS DEDICATED BY THE / TRADE UNIONS OF PRESTON TO THE MEMORY OF ALL / WORKERS WORLDWIDE WHO ARE KILLED, INJURED / SUFFER ILL HEALTH OR DETRIMENT AS A CONSEQUENCE OF WORK. / REMEMBER THE DEAD, FIGHT FOR THE LIVING; right plaque: IN LUNE STREET, PRESTON, FOUR WORKERS / WERE SHOT AND KILLED BY THE MILITARY / DURING THE GENERAL STRIKE OF 1842. / SEVERAL THOUSAND PRESTON WORKERS WERE / DEMONSTRATING AGAINST WAGE CUTS, AND / FOR THE 'CHARTER' OF DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS.

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