Don't Panic. Before the Police cancel leave, South Today despach Sally Taylor and the Mayor calls his lawyer I should explain that this headline would have been blogged 130 years ago today had such technology existed.
I've written it for two reasons. Firstly as the Tories get ready to start their conference, no doubt banging on about this new idea of 'broken Britain' it is worth remembering that the good old days weren't always that good.
The other reason is that those outside Basingstoke (about 300 a month access this blog) look upon it as a town with no history. So I will share a bit of it
Note this a slimmed down version
It all started back in 1880. The Brewing Industry was big in the town at the time and the 6700 or so population was served by 50 pubs. Hardly surprisingly Basingstoke had gained a reputation of drunkenness. The Salvation Army sent officers to the town to preach a different path. This split the town in two. Church leaders along with many business leaders in the area including the Gazette newspaper were very supportive of the Salvation Army intervention. However those with a strong interest in the brewing industry were obviously not so impressed.
There were a number of drink related assaults as both the pro and anti drink groups grew. In March 1881 a few hundred revellers assembled to take on the Salvation Army. The Town Police appeared to do nothing. At that time they were lead by the Mayor (who just happened to be a brewer). A week later around 3000 (half the town?) assembled in Brook Street and Market squaree to disrupt a march through town by the Salvation Army and their supporters a huge amount of damage was caused and it took the Royal Artillery to get the streets under control. Later that year a noisy magistrates Court sent ten rioters to jail.
130 years ago today the rioters were released from prison to a heroes welcome. They received gifts for their efforts from a wealthy donor (*) and the riots started all over again with windows smashed in Church street (including the Gazette Offices). It is because they decided to mass again, that they became the Massagainians (or so it is assumed).
The riots continued for several years until 1883, after which I guess the Salvation Army changed tactics and the drinking culture died down.
*The most successful and perhaps influential man in the town at that time was John May, the main local brewery had been in his family for several generations and it is said that he owned around 3 in 4 town pubs at the time. He went on to be Mayor several times and although it is suggested that he was fully behind the riots, it is hard to fault his contribution to Basingstoke, beyond his civil service as Mayor, he donated the Cricket ground and later the Pavilion (May's Bounty) along with other things in order to give something back.... sounds like he was a 'big society' fanatic, I am guessing that may come up at the Tory party conference as a new idea as well.
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