In May 1839, a group of men in women's clothes attacked and demolished a turnpike at Efail-wen, Carmarthenshire.
Their riots would empower the poor.
They became a totem.
A symbol of rebellion, against English wealth.
They were Merched Beca: The Daughters of Rebecca.
THREAD 👇
Their riots would empower the poor.
They became a totem.
A symbol of rebellion, against English wealth.
They were Merched Beca: The Daughters of Rebecca.
THREAD 👇
The owner of the Efail-wen tollgate was Thomas Bullin, an Englishman who owned Turnpike Trusts from London to the west of Wales.
Turnpike Trusts, or groups of businessmen, owned most of the main roads.
They fixed toll charges, and decided how many Turnpikes could be built.
Turnpike Trusts, or groups of businessmen, owned most of the main roads.
They fixed toll charges, and decided how many Turnpikes could be built.
🚧 Turnpike Trust explainer 🚧
• In the 1600s, Turnpike Acts enabled a 'trust' to levy tolls for repair
• Trusts were not-for-profit and set maximum tolls
• A 'Turnpike' was the gate which blocked the road
• By 1836, turnpikes covered ⅕ of the entire road network
• In the 1600s, Turnpike Acts enabled a 'trust' to levy tolls for repair
• Trusts were not-for-profit and set maximum tolls
• A 'Turnpike' was the gate which blocked the road
• By 1836, turnpikes covered ⅕ of the entire road network
In the late 1830s, Britain underwent an unparalleled economic depression.
Thousands lived in dire poverty, made worse by a series of bad harvests.
Across Wales, tenant farmers and farm workers in particular found the high tolls levied by Turnpike Trusts a cruel burden.
Thousands lived in dire poverty, made worse by a series of bad harvests.
Across Wales, tenant farmers and farm workers in particular found the high tolls levied by Turnpike Trusts a cruel burden.
The turnpikes became a target for destruction – physical representations of oppression.
It's thought that "Rebecca" was a reference to a passage in the Book of Genesis:
"And they blessed Rebekah and said unto her… may your descendants possess the gates of those who hate them"
It's thought that "Rebecca" was a reference to a passage in the Book of Genesis:
"And they blessed Rebekah and said unto her… may your descendants possess the gates of those who hate them"
The Rebecca Riots soon shifted focus, targeting high-rent landlords, bailiffs, unpopular magistrates, tithe collectors and even the fathers of illegitimate children.
They attacked workhouses, expressing their hatred of the Poor Law of 1834, and the way paupers were treated.
They attacked workhouses, expressing their hatred of the Poor Law of 1834, and the way paupers were treated.
The riots reached their peak during the summer of 1843, when the authorities decided to send in troops and the Metropolitan Police.
By the end of that year the riots had come to an end, and many of the leaders of the movement were jailed.
By the end of that year the riots had come to an end, and many of the leaders of the movement were jailed.
But Merched Beca had won a famous victory.
By 1864, the majority of Turnpike Trusts had been abolished, with county councils assuming responsibility for roads.
More 👇
🪓 nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/reso…
👊 history.powys.org.uk/school1/rhayad…
🔥 ageofrevolution.org/200-object/reb…
📜 bbc.co.uk/wales/history/…
By 1864, the majority of Turnpike Trusts had been abolished, with county councils assuming responsibility for roads.
More 👇
🪓 nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/reso…
👊 history.powys.org.uk/school1/rhayad…
🔥 ageofrevolution.org/200-object/reb…
📜 bbc.co.uk/wales/history/…
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