On 24th September 1838, Salford's biggest ever demonstration took place on Kersal Moor, when hundreds of thousands of people marched from all over the north west to demand the vote. Organised by the Chartists, the rally at the old racecourse on the Moor was the launchpad in Lancashire of the fight for democracy in England – which soon spread throughout the world (see here for more details)
For years local people have been campaigning for a plaque on Kersal Moor to commemorate the major turning point in British politics. Today that plaque was unveiled at 3pm by the Mayor of Salford who said that it was fitting such a memory was stirred in the week of the general election.
The Manchester Community Choir sang a special song, written for the Chartist rally by J.Wheeler in 1838, which has never been performed in public since that day.
The day also included games, a fancy dress competition, tunes by Besses Boys Band and stalls including one featuring giant copies of press reports of the Chartist rally from the Northern Star in 1838. The Salford Star did brisk business selling t-shirts and special Salford Star bottled beer donated by Salford's independent micro brewers, Bazens.
The unveiling of the plaque to the Chartists took centre stage – and this was a fitting celebration and commemoration of the fight for the vote and democracy.
See previous article here
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