The Chartist meeting in 1842 at Basin Stones, Walsden

The Blogpost of 14th May 2019 featured a short biography of Charles Hiley (1822-1899). The following is an excerpt from Charles's obituary in The Todmorden Advertiser and Hebden Bridge Newsletter on 30th March 1899.

This content is included courtesy of the British Newspaper Archive (www.britishnespaperarchive.co.uk)

Image © THE BRITSH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 

Alfred Walter Bayes (1832-1909) was born in Lumbutts near Todmorden and became a pupil teacher at his father's school in Lumbutts. A W Bayes moved to London to advance his artistic career, exhibited at the Royal Academy, and became a notable painter and engraver. One of his most famous paintings (shown below) is of the Chartists meeting in 1842 at Basin Stones on the moorland hills high above Walsden.

Chartism, the first true working-class movement in Britain, was named after the People's Charter, which set out six political demands: universal suffrage, equal electoral districts, vote by secret ballot, annually elected Parliaments, payment for MPs and abolition of property qualifications for MPs. 

The strength of Chartism was reflected in public meetings which were attended by huge numbers of people. Among the speakers were John Fielden, the Todmorden industrialist and M.P., Feargus O'Connor, editor of the Leeds Chartist newspaper and Ernest Jones, the poet and novelist.

Perhaps Charles Hiley was one of those who attended this meeting at Basin Stones.

A Chartist meeting at Basin Stones, Todmorden, 1842, by A W Bayes