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Transcribed from an article in The Times, Thursday June 1 1843.

Bromsgrove, Tuesday Evening.

Lat night the western neighbourhood of Birmingham was considerably excited and alarmed by rumours of disturbances amongst the turn-out nailors of Bromsgrove and the adjoining mining districts of Cradley, Stourbridge &c. About 7 o’clock a detachment of the 1st Royal Dragoons, under Captain Peel (the nephew of the Premier) left Birmingham at a hand gallop, and arrived in Bromsgrove about half-past 8. The circumstances which have led to the present unpleasant state of affairs amongst the workpeople are briefly as follows:-

For some years past various reductions have taken place in the manufacture of nails – reductions in the aggregate amounting to 20 per cent; and about a fortnight ago a further reduction was attempted. A good workman, upon the average, would under the old prices - the prices of some years ago – earn about 20s per week; but since the reduction first took place, the price has reduced the rate of remuneration to 16s. the attempt recently made would reduce it still further to 14s. it ought, however, to be understood that the amount received by the workpeople in the nail trade depends almost altogether upon the ability of the workmen. This fact renders it somewhat difficult to obtain an absolutely correct statement of the wages received by the operatives generally employed in this peculiar trade of the midlands districts. It would appear that the attempted reduction of wages originated in the discovery by the masters generally, that one of their body had been for sometime past buying nails form one of the small cottage manufacturers considerably under market price. This is at least the defence they now urge; as they contend it would have been utterly impossible to meet the market against such competition without a depreciation in the price of labour.

No sooner had the strike become general, that, as usual, certain characters attempted, for political and interested purposes, to inflame the minds of the working population. Fortunately, however, hitherto the attempt has comparatively failed. The better disposed of the operatives at once appealed to the Hon and Rev Lord Aston and his fellow magistrates, with a view to induce their worships to interfere as arbitrators. The following form of petition was presented to the magistrates is worthy of publicity, as evidencing the quality of people from whom it proceeded:-

MOST HON AND REV LORD AND BROTHER MAGISTRATES NOW SITTING AT PETTY SESSIONS

“In consequence of the low prices and the irregularities of prices, we have an occasion, through present oppression to come, and we hope with humility, to your venerable Lordship, begging that you will now intercede on our behalf, in order to alleviate our distress. Our masters profess to gives us 16s and 14s, which was never known in the trade before. My Lord, we are sorry to say that many of our fellow-men are still labouring under greater oppression through the truck system. A many years back the trade was in the same state as it is now in, and in favour of the men the magistrates called our masters together and they agreed to give an equal price. Your humble petitioners earnestly beg your hon. Lordship will intercede on the present occasion.
“Your Humble Petitioners”
(Signed by a number of workpeople)

In consequence of this appeal the magistrates interposed, with a view of arranging the difference between the large nail dealers and the small roadside cottage manufacturers; and, to the credit of the money-paying masters, the great majority of them signed a paper declaratory of their intention to continue the payment of the old rate of wages. The following is the declaration of the magistrates referred to:-

“It having been represented to us, the undersigned nail-manufacturers in the town of Bromsgrove, that the nailors of that place and its neighbourhood have presented a petition to the magistrates in petty sessions assembled (of which the following is a copy), we, the said manufacturers having held a meeting and taken the above petition into consideration, do hereby declare that we will, as far as we are able, employ the said nailors usually employed by us upon the same terms as we employed them at previously to such petition being presented, Dated the 27th day of May 1843”

Subsequent to this a meeting of the workpeople was held, at which a deputation was appointed to lay their case before the public. The opportunity of so doing was yesterday afforded them in the Town-hall. A meeting, convened by the churchwardens and overseers, was held “to take into consideration the present depressed state of the nail trade, and want of employment of the workmen; to ascertain the cause thereof; and to adopt such means as may be considered advisable, with the view of endeavouring to place that trade in a more permanent and prosperous state; and more especially to prevent for the future, if possible, a system of ‘fogging’ and ‘trucking’ extensively carried on in the parish to the injury of the industrious working men, and detrimental to the shopkeepers generally”. The meeting was crowded, and attended by parishioners of every shade of political opinion.

Mr F Rufford having been called to the chair, a deputation form the workmen were introduced, and the chairman inquired whether, according to engagement, their grievances had not been redressed? The men replied, that the amount of wages, even at the old rate, was totally inadequate for the maintenance of themselves and their families, and that they required an increase. It was their determination not to return to work unless they received the rate of wages paid previous to the reduction which took place about three months ago.

The Chairman, Mr Iddins, Mr Ellins, and other magistrates, informed the men that it was not the object of the meeting to interfere with the question of wages, but simply, if possible, to remedy the evil of the truck system and generally forward the interests of the working man. They recommended that the deputation would retire and again consult with their fellow-operatives, with the view, if practicable, of coming to some amicable arrangement with their employers.

The men accordingly retired, but on their return they again expressed their unalterable determination not to return to work without an increase in the rate of wages. The deputation having again withdrawn, the following resolutions were passed unanimously:-

“That the thanks of this meeting be tendered to the magistrates, for the manner in which they have taken into their consideration the petition of the workmen; and to the masters for the straightforward manner in which they have agreed to employ their workmen at their former rate of wages.”

“That this meeting deeply regrets the state of the trade of the district, and the lamentable condition of may of the poor workmen, form want of full employment, and the unjust system of paying in truck; at the same time the refusal of those men to return to their work who can procure the old rate of wages precludes this meeting from any active interference, so long as such determination as conveyed by the deputation form the workmen this day continues to exist.”

It appears that after the meeting broke up, in consequence of the great number of strangers from Cradley and other manufacturing neighbourhoods, and certain threats made to individuals, the magistrates by way of protection, deemed it necessary to call in the aid of extra civil force and a detachment of the troops from Birmingham. At present, however, no acts of violence have been committed, nor need any be immediately apprehended.

The following correct statistics will show the wretched state of Bromsgrove and its neighbourhood: the population of the parish is 9,671’ the number of houses assessed to the poor 2,016; of these 1,763 are under 10L per annum and 1,391 under 5L. About 180 occupations are void and the tenants of 619 are from poverty excused paying rates. The number of permanent paupers receiving regular parish relief is about 1,000, and on Friday last in addition, 360 heads of families, comprising about 1,500 people, received temporary assistance at the union workhouse. Such is the state of the nail districts in Worcestershire.