Exploring The Gordon Riots in London

Date post added: 19th September 2024

Rioting isn’t a new-fangled phenomenon. People have been standing up for their beliefs and protesting against authority for centuries.

In the 18th century, there was a real humdinger of a riot – The Gordon Riots. London descended into chaotic mayhem for seven days in June 1780. Over several scary nights, London in its entirety seemed to be ablaze. Was Georgian Britain on the verge of revolution? It certainly felt that way.

But what was the catalyst for the most devastating outbreak of urban violence in British history? What or who lit the touchpaper and fanned the flames? Read on to discover the causes, impact and long-term effect of The Gordon Riots of 1780.

What started the Gordon Riots?

Two years earlier, the Catholic Relief Act of 1778 had been introduced which granted modest new rights to Catholics. It lifted some of the strict restrictions placed on Catholics at the end of the 17th century in The Popery Act of 1698. The main changes were that Catholics could join the army and own property. It was timely as it meant that more Catholics could join the British Army to fight against America in the American War of Independence.

The members of the newly formed Protestant Association were not impressed by this act and wanted to get the Bill repealed in England. They had a strong backing of anti-Catholic Protestants. In Scotland, they managed successfully to block the introduction of the new law in Scotland. Violence ensued with Scottish Presbyterians pulling down the papists’ houses.

In England, the violence went far further. What began as an orderly protest for repeal outside Parliament descended into violent rioting and looting for an entire week.

Why were they called the Gordon Riots?

Lord George Gordon was head of the Protestant Association. His anti-Catholic sentiment persuaded people that this law would not only enable Catholics to join the British Army, but that they’d also plot treason.

On 2nd June, Lord George Gordon and his mates from the Protestant Association gathered in St. George’s Fields, ready to march to Parliament with a petition for the then Prime Minister, Lord North. Many carried flags and banners proclaiming “No Popery.” On arrival, Lord Gordon entered Parliament and demanded immediate consideration of the petition – a request that was denied.

The protestors were severely unhappy and attacked the carriages of Members of Parliament as they arrived at Westminster. That started several days of rioting. Initially, there were targeted attacks on Catholics’ homes and churches. Over the next few days, that extended to attacks on police officers, Newgate prison and even the Bank of England.

A bit about Lord George Gordon

As the son of the 3rd Duke of Gordon, Lord Gordon came from privilege and was well-connected. When he showed interest in politics, he had ample contacts to help him along that career path. In 1774, he entered the House of Commons aged only 22. He stood out immediately as an independent thinker. By 1779, he was the first president of the Protestant Association.

Charles Dickens set one of his earlier novels, Barnaby Rudge against the backdrop of the Gordon Riots with Lord George Gordon in a leading role.

A timeline of The Gordon Riots

The riots started by targeting Catholics. In the first few days of the riots (the weekend of 3rd- 4th June) violence broke out in pockets of the city. An organised mob descended on Moorfield in East London. A community of working-class Irish immigrants were seen as the enemy due to their Catholicism and willingness to work for reduced wages.

Many Catholic MPs’ homes were ransacked. Lord Mansfield (the Lord Chief Justice) was one of these. His London residence was targeted with his vast library getting burned. Rioters then moved on to his country estate, Kenwood House on Hampstead Heath (yes, Hampstead was considered the country then). Luckily for him, a guard diverted their attention with the bribe of free ale at a nearby inn.

Over the next few days, government buildings were targeted. A number of embassies, including the Roman Catholic Sardinian Embassy Chapel in Lincoln’s Inn Fields, were ransacked. Newgate Prison was another site and 300 prisoners were freed by the rioters – many of whom were never recaptured. Daubed on the walls was graffiti stating “His Majesty King Mob.”

The riot peaked on 7th June, termed ‘Black Wednesday’, when the rioters tried to destroy the Bank of England. In Holborn, Langdale Distillery (owned by the Roman Catholic Thomas Langdale) was set alight. When the fire reached the vats of alcohol, the flames leapt high into the sky. It’s claimed they could be seen as far away as Oxford. These apocalyptic scenes have since depicted the mayhem of this time. Professor Ian Haywood argues that it was these apocalyptic scenes that gave the Gordon riots their cultural power.

Many accused the City of London Authorities of not getting tough soon enough. But it was on 7th June that they enacted martial law which permitted troops to shoot rioters on site.

The angry groups would have been read the Riot Act. Not like your parents did when you stayed out too late, they were literally read the Riot Act of 1714. 18th Century journalist, John Wilkes said, “a public official would have to stand before them – either a brave or foolhardy thing to do.” If that wasn’t enough to disperse the crowds, they faced harsh penalties.

By the following evening, Thursday 8th June, the rioting had subsided. But 285 people had been shot dead, and a further 200 had been wounded. Around 450 people were arrested.

The UK has a rich history of riots – find out more

What was the outcome of the Gordon Riots?

The poet, William Cooper said the Gordon Riots left “a metropolis in flames and a nation in ruins”. It’s said that more property was destroyed by The Gordon Riots than was destroyed in Paris during the entire French Revolution.

160 of those arrested went to trial either in Southwark or the Old Bailey. As a result, 26 were sentenced to be hanged for their involvement in the riots.

In 1781, Lord George Gordon was imprisoned for eight months and tried for high treason. Again, his network came to his aid. His cousin successfully argued for his acquittal. Fast forward a few years to 1787, and Lord Gordon was in trouble again. He dared to criticise the severity of criminal law in England and make derogatory comments about the French monarchy and the then French Ambassador to Great Britain. That landed him another five-year jail sentence at Newgate, where he ended up dying from typhoid.

Discover evidence of The Gordon Riots in London today

One of of the first places that the rioters attacked was the Catholic chapel in Golden Square, Soho. Today, the church of Our Lady of the Assumption and St. Gregory is located on that site.   It was built in 1789 on the site of a Catholic chapel pillaged during the riots.

Drummonds Bank in Trafalgar Square is an amazing site of memory. Founded in 1717, its clients included King George III, Alexander Pope and Benjamin Disraeli. When the Gordon Riots erupted, the bank armed its employees with blunderbusses, some of which are still on display in its lobby. And, you guessed it, London Walks’ David has been known to arrange to take private walks into the bank to see the blunderbusses.

London is a sinful city, with currents of anger bubbling below its surface. Explore sites of historic anger, along with six more deadly sins, on our Seven Deadly Sins walking tour.