The Great Nottingham Cheese Riot of 1766

Initial Chaos

The Great Nottingham Cheese Riot of 1766 erupted during a time of severe food shortages and skyrocketing prices. The Goose Fair, a traditional event in Nottingham, became the epicenter of chaos when the price of cheese doubled, leading to tensions among locals and merchants. The situation escalated as merchants from Lincolnshire attempted to buy up all the cheese, angering the Nottinghamshire locals who believed the cheese should remain local. This led to a chaotic scene where locals, described as "rude lads," began rolling large wheels of cheese down the streets to prevent them from being taken away 1.

Soon people were grabbing the cheese wheels to liberate the Nottinghamshire cheese. They didn't just grab it, but they rolled large wheels of cheese down the street to get it out of the hands of the Lincolnshire merchants.

--- Gary Arndt

The riot quickly turned into looting and destruction, with windows broken and cheese stolen, marking a bizarre chapter in the town's history 1.

   

Authorities' Response

In response to the escalating chaos, town officials and law enforcement struggled to regain control. The mayor was knocked down by a rolling cheese wheel, and roadblocks were set up to prevent cheese from leaving Nottingham. Despite attempts to quell the riot, including the arrest of several participants, the situation worsened when the mob stormed the jail to free those detained 2.

The 15th dragoons were stationed nearby, and they were brought in to quell the crowds. They actually fired into the crowd, killing one man, a man by the name of William Eggleston.

--- Gary Arndt

The unrest persisted until military intervention, and even then, cheese had to be escorted out of the city under armed guard, highlighting the severity of the riot 2.