Stuart Butler will give a talk on The Radical History of the Five Valleys at the Prince Albert next month.
Stuart, who is well known for his historical walks and is on the list of Gloucestershire Local History Association speakers, will perform on Monday, November 22, 7.30pm.
“We’ve presented ‘History’ up the Albert in the past,” said Stuart.
“Leon Greenman with a talk on the Holocaust, nearly twenty years ago, and performances about the Christmas football in the trenches truce in 2014 but this is a new departure.”
Stuart’s performance alliteratively covers ‘Riots, Revolution and Redcoats; Empire and Enslavement’ – 18th and 19th century topics include the impact of the East India Company upon Chalford; food riots and political tension in the late 18th century; the Captain Swing agricultural riots of 1830; weavers’ riots and strikes; the visit of ‘the most dangerous man in England’, John Thelwall to our area in the summer of 1797, three years after his trial for treason; Chartist mass meetings on Rodborough Common and Selsley in 1839; owners of enslaved peoples in the parish and a Black presence in the parish registers, and transportation from the area and emigration.
Entry is free but in traditional radical fashion, a hat will be passed around at the end.
Lotte Lyster Connolly, the landlady, added: “I want those living in the valleys to be aware of the radical history and revolutionaries that have thrived in the district for hundreds of years. And Stuart’s background as an admired teacher means his talks are always informative and fun. Bring cash for the hat, and maybe a tin or three for the Food Bank hamper.”
