First published in 1989 The Unquiet Countryside chronicles rural crime and unrest in the English countryside from seventeenth century down to the end of the Victorian era. The authors highlight some of the most striking aspects of the countryside of the past: the extent and nature of rural crime and protest; riots over food; the Swing riots of 1830; poaching, arson, and animal maiming; the relations between landowners and the rural community; and the eventual new outlet for farmworkers in the growth of labour organizations. The volume expands our understanding of the rural past and directs new light on Britain’s rural heritage. This book is an essential read for scholars and researchers of British history, agricultural history, and history in general.
The Contributors Editor’s Note Introduction G. E. Mingay 1. Crime in the countryside 1600-1800 J.H. Porter 2. Bread or Blood John Stevenson 3. ‘Rural War’: the life and times of Captain Swing G. E. Mingay 4. Poachers abroad John E. Archer 5. Under cover of night: arson and animal maiming John E. Archer 6. Landowners and the rural community F.M. L. Thompson 7. Labour Organizations Pamela Horn 8. Rural Crime and protest in the Victorian era David Jones References Index
Biography
G.E. Mingay
