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Peterloo Massacre plaque unveiled

11/12/2007

A new plaque to mark the 1819 Peterloo Massacre has been unveiled in central Manchester following concerns that the original memorial did not honour the memory of those who died.

The plaque, which was unveiled by lord mayor of Manchester Glynn Evans, replaces the one at the former Free Trade Hall - now the Radisson Edwardian Hotel - on Peter Street.

On August 16th 1819, the Manchester Patriotic Union Society, which was campaigning for radical parliamentary reform, led a public meeting in St Peter's Fields. But cavalrymen charged into the crowd attacking men, women and children, resulting in 11 deaths and more than 500 injuries.

Councillor Evans said: "We are acknowledging one of the most important events in Manchester's history and should be marked accordingly.

"We must also never forget those who lost their lives on that day."

The original blue plaque did not mention the fact that 11 people died, hundreds were injured or that the massacre marked a turning point on the road to British democracy.