1854 'Bread riot' at Exeter

This cutting is from the Illustrated London News of Saturday 21st January, 1854 (Issue 664). The accompanying article detailed "The Bread Riots at Exeter," a response to the rising price of bread. 

In the image, a line of horse-mounted soldiers can be seen at the centre, guarding Exeter's historic Guildhall. A crowd of men and women appear at all sides at a slight distance.

According to the Illustrated London News, "the most active portion of the mob seems to have consisted of women," and "fortunately their violence did not extend much further than destroying the shops of a number of bakers." Nonetheless, some rioters, who went on to Exminster, "broke into one or two houses, drank a quantity of cider" and threatened "to set fire to the premises." The military arrived to disperse "the mob," and two rioters were taken prisoner. 

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