Lastly, there were big social divisions between the gentry (large landowners) and the small tenant farmers and labourers who worked on the land.
There was a good harvest in 1842, but the benefits of this were lost because that was a year of economic depression, so industrial workers could not afford to buy agricultural goods. Poor harvests in 18 increased shortages and poverty. Instead, they were forced to live in a workhouse where conditions were deliberately made harsher than the worst conditions outside (the government believed that the cause of poverty was laziness or a bad character).
The law meant that poor relief (money) was no longer paid to the able-bodied poor. The rioters attacked workhouses as well as tollgates. As 80% of the population of west Wales was Non-Conformist, they resented having to pay tithes to a church that was not their own.Īnother cause for discontent was the new Poor Law set up in England and Wales in 1834. In 1836, an act was passed replacing payment in kind by a money payment that was fixed by the vicar or sometimes by the local landowner. Tithes were paid to the Anglican Church in almost all Welsh parishes once a year. These payments were made in kind, for example crops or wool. Tithes were payments made for the support of the parish church. The income of tenant farmers was further reduced because they had to pay tithes. They created larger farms that could only be rented at a much higher price. The landlords wanted to make more money and started to reduce the number of smallholdings available to rent. They rented their land from wealthy landlords. Most of the farmers in these areas were small holders who grew enough to support their families. This increased competition for land and jobs and added to unemployment and poverty. Wales had seen a population increase since the start of the 19th century. The main trigger for the Rebecca riots came from farmers having to pay high tolls to use the roads, but there were other reasons for their discontent. Attacks occurred in Cardiganshire and Radnorshire as well. In October, during a riot at the Hendy Gate near Swansea, the tollhouse keeper was killed. The tollgates at Pontardulais and Llangyfelach were attacked. In August, riots took place for the first time in Glamorgan at Llanelli. Troops were called in as the movement became more violent. In May 1843, the tollgates at Carmarthen were destroyed and in June a crowd of 2,000 tried to burn down the workhouse there. The government refused to send soldiers and so the magistrates called in the marines from Pembroke Dock and the Castlemartin Yeomanry Cavalry. The gates were rebuilt, but all gates in St Clears were destroyed by 12 December. This was destroyed in November, as were the tollgates at Pwll-trap and Trevaughan. The disturbances started again in 1842 when the Whitland Trust built a new gate at The Mermaid, on the lime road at St Clears in Carmarthenshire. Trouble died down when it was agreed by the authorities that the gates would be not be rebuilt. A second new tollgate was attacked at Llanboidy. The Whitland Turnpike Trust rebuilt the gate, only for it to be destroyed again in June. This gate was an obvious target, situated on the road used by those carrying lime back from the coast. The first incident occurred in Pembrokeshire in May 1839 when a new tollgate at Efailwen was destroyed. Use this lesson to find out about the Rebecca riots using original documents relating to the nature of the movement, the experience of some of those involved and the reaction of the authorities. The people of west Wales did not want to pay to use their roads. It could cost as much as five shillings (25p) in tolls to move a cart of lime eight miles inland. Lime was used to improve the quality of the soil so farmers could grow better crops. Tolls were a big expense for small farmers, who used the roads to take their crops and animals to market, and also to collect lime (a chalky mineral).
This is most likely to be after a passage in the Bible where Rebecca talks of the need to ‘possess the gates of those who hate them’ (Genesis XXIV, verse 60). They called themselves ‘Rebecca and her daughters’. These men fixed the charges and decided how many tollgates (turnpikes) could be built.ĭuring the riots, men disguised as women attacked the tollgates. Turnpike Trusts, or groups of businessmen, owned most of the main roads.
REBECCA BURN NOTICE SERIES
They were a series of protests made by tenant farmers against the payment of tolls (fees) charged to use the roads. The Rebecca riots took place in the rural parts of west Wales, including Pembrokeshire, Cardiganshire, and Carmarthenshire, in 1839-1843.
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