Strike turns ugly in ironworking village Witton Park

The strike by ironworkers, which had lasted for most of the summer, was beginning to breakdown, with some men returning to Bolckow and Vaughan’s blast furnaces.

On Friday, November 2, 1866, the strikers, fuelled by resentment and drink, rioted, smashing the windows of those they considered to be strike-breakers.

“A messenger was at last sent to the ironworks,” said the Darlington & Stockton Times of November 10, 1866, “and shortly afterwards, the puddlers armed with pieces of iron and other weapons proceeded to the scene of the disturbance.

“They speedily dispersed the rioters and showed them that their differences of opinion on the point of returning to work must not be expressed by breaking windows.”

The ringleaders were arrested – William Thomas, William Evans, David Thomas and, John Thomas – and appeared in court on Monday, November 5. They had thrown “a rail and a volley of stones” which had struck a policeman. They were convicted of rioting and were sent to Durham Assizes for sentencing.

“During the hearing of the case, the court was crowded by the men on strike,” said the D&S, and you can feel the intimidatory atmosphere burning down the years.

PEACEFUL TODAY: Witton Park, where ironworkers rioted in 1866

In a separate article, the paper said: “The firm, finding the men thus resorting to violence, determined to remove them from their houses from which, we understand, they have paid no rent for four months. This has, accordingly, been done.”

In fact, it was done the day after the court case, “a great number” of strikers being evicted – their possessions and their children thrown roofless onto the November streets.

“A large body of police and bailiffs had been specially despatched from Durham to preserve the peace, but all passed off quietly,” said the D&S.