Preston Guild Collectables - 1842
for pictures of 1842 collectables, see the 1842 album
In 1842 Preston was growing as an industrial centre particularly with textiles, and with this came industrial unrest.
Before Preston Guild in August 1842, riots broke out. The Mayor at that time was Samuel Horrocks, and he was the heir to the founder of Lancashire's textile trade. He read out the Riot Act, but this was ignored and several rioters were killed and more injured when soldiers fired on them.
It was against this backdrop that the Guild was held in September, and although it was well attended, feelings must have still been running high.
This mug and jug are pearlware, with pink lustre and green enamel decoration. It has no makers mark. Most Guild memorabilia has the name of the Mayor at the time of the Guild on it, and these do not, and it may have been because the mayor wished to keep a lower profile after the riots.
There is a sculpture at the site in Lune Street where the rioters were killed as a commemoration to them.
