The Warwick Arms - The Clutton Riots Friday 24 July 1852
EAST SOMERSET ELECTION
We are sorry to say that on Monday disturbances took place in different parts of the county, but more especially in the neighbourhood of Clutton. It appears that at the village of Clutton the polling was appointed to take place, in three outbuildings belonging to the Warwick Arms Inn, the Inn itself having been engaged by the committee of the Conservative candidates. It is said that disturbances had been anticipated, and that an application had been made on the previous Saturday to the Clutton Board of Magistrates for the swearing in of special constables. This application however was rejected, and no measures whatever were taken.
Photograph – W. J. Gay.
Photograph – Clutton Millenium CD.
The polling proceeded very quietly for the first hour although a large number of idle persons, estimated at several thousand altogether, had collected in the village from the surrounding neighbourhood. Meanwhile the voters as they arrived, had great difficulty in obtaining access to the polling booth, and a small body of persons was employed by Mr. S. O. Samborne, the Conservative chairman of the district, in endeavouring to keep open the passages. Their efforts however, met with little success and only served to incense the violence of the mob; at length the appearances became so threatening as to cause general alarm amongst the officials, as well as the more respectable supporters of both parties, and Captain Scobell being present, he was requested to address the mob and urge them to desist from their violence.
About one o’clock, several stones were thrown at the Warwick Arms. About two o’clock the Inn was closed. This measure seems to have exasperated the mob beyond endurance, and they made a general attack upon the house, driving the men employed in front within doors, and smashing the windows from the ground to the roof, both front and back. Not satisfied with this, a number of fellows entered the lower rooms, smashed the furniture, drunk the wine and spirits in the bar, seized some joints of meat which were roasting at the fire, and, in short, completely gutted the lower part of the house. Everything that could be injured was smashed; china, glass, tables. Fortunately, in their insane fury, they injured the beer engine, and thus an excellent cellar of beer escaped.
The poll was closed. And the men who had acted as constables, the Conservative committee, as well as Mr. Thomas Goffe, the landlord, with his family, were obliged to take refuge in the upper part of the house. About half past two o’clock the Riot Act was read, but this proceeding was ineffectual, the whole place being, in truth, in possession of the mob, who continued to make the most violent demonstrations. In the course of the evening, a body of special constables arrived, and were afterwards followed by the Ston Easton troop of North Somerset Yeomanry Cavalry.
Tranquillity was restored, and, beyond the mobbing of one of the troopers, no further disturbance took place. Part of the Yeomanry were billeted at the inn, and the remaining took up their quarters for the night at the residence of John Mogg Esq., at High Littleteton. Early on Tuesday morning, the Mells troop of the same regiment arrived. No prisoners were taken, as it was feared that any attempts of this kind might lead to renewed disturbances.
The appearance of the Warwick Arms was dismal in the extreme. Not a vestige of window nor window frame was left; the lamp over the door was battered to pieces, and the walls of the house, which had lately been painted, were dented and disfigured by blows. The floors were covered with stones and powdered glass, some of the former three or four inches long; a huge heap of stones in the road served as an armoury of the mob. The business of the house had been resumed; while furniture there was none except in utter ruin. The damage done is estimated at £300.
In August 1852 four of the offenders were sentenced to six months imprisonment with hard labour.