"Coronation Balloon" damaged at Huddersfield.

On 23rd April 1832 a planned and well publicised balloon ascent was to have taken place from the Market Place in Huddersfield. At the same period of time a Bill in Parliament extending the protection existing in the Factory Act gave to workers was proposed, namely hours children could work in the cotton industry and limiting the adult working day. My knowledge of social history in mill towns is limited. This Bill appears to have been favoured by the huge number of workers in the mill industry but opposed by mill owners. It was somehow thought by many of the working class people in the town that the balloon ascent was a stunt arranged by mill owners in opposition to the Bill. This was a period in history when manned balloon ascents were very popular events to witness and for whatever reason they linked this to the Factory Bill opposition. The balloon was 2/3 filled elsewhere in Hudderfield and, before it got too big, was brought to the Market Place where the plan would have been to complete filling it and then attach nets and the car for the aeronaut. Unfortunately a large crowd soon surrounded the balloon and was far greater than could be managed by the few policemen who were in attendance, the crowd soon became hostile and took their anger out on those making the balloon ready. Ten men were arrested but before they were led away the crowd then surrounded the police and succeeded in freeing them. Fearing damage to the balloon was occur it was carried to the corner of Kirkgate in it's semi-filled state. Here someone cut the balloon with a knife and opened the gas release valve. The aeronaut and his assistant were thrown onto the balloon and generally mis-treated and the car below the balloon was deliberately smashed. Three arrests were made.

Aeronaut / Owner - Mr William Russum.

Assistant - Mr Richard Russum.