Ely and Littleport riots of 1816

Ely and Littleport riots

Facsimile of a printed handbill, 23 May 1816,[1] prepared by magistrates Henry Law, William Metcalfe and Peploe Ward[2]
Date	22 May 1816 – 24 May 1816 (1816-05-24)
Location	Littleport and Ely in Isle of Ely, Cambridgeshire, England
Also known as	Littleport riots
Participants	Initially 56 citizens of Littleport then spread to Ely; 82 people were arrested
Outcome	One rioter killed by troops; 23 men and one woman condemned; five men hanged on 28 June 1816 (1816-06-28); sentences on the other 19 varied from 12 months in prison to transportation for life

The Ely and Littleport riots of 1816, also known as the Ely riots or Littleport riots, occurred between 22 and 24 May 1816 in the Isle of Ely (now in Cambridgeshire). The riots were caused by high unemployment and rising grain costs, similar to the general unrest which spread throughout England following the Napoleonic Wars.

The Littleport riot broke out when a group of residents met at The Globe Inn. Fuelled by alcohol, they left the inn and began intimidating wealthier Littleport residents, demanding money and destroying property. The riot spread to Ely where magistrates attempted to calm the protests by ordering poor relief and fixing a minimum wage. The following day, encouraged by Lord Liverpool's government, a militia of the citizens of Ely, led by Sir Henry Bate Dudley and backed by the 1st The Royal Dragoons, rounded up the rioters. In the ensuing altercation at The George and Dragon in Littleport, a trooper was injured, one rioter was killed, and at least one went on the run.

Edward Christian, brother of Fletcher Christian, had been appointed Chief Justice of the Isle of Ely in 1800 by the Bishop of Ely. As the Chief Justice, Christian was entitled to try the rioters alone. The government, in this case via the Home Secretary, Lord Sidmouth, nevertheless appointed a Special Commission, consisting of Justice Abbott and Justice Burrough. The rioters were tried in the assizes at Ely during the week commencing 17 June 1816. 23 men and one woman were condemned, of which five were subsequently hanged. General unrest and riots such as that at Littleport may have been a factor in the government passing the Vagrancy Act 1824 and subsequently the Metropolitan Police Act 1829.