1838 Rioting in Lacey Green

The following report was found in the Bucks Herald by Rita Probert

"Fights & Rioting at Lacey Green in 1838

On Sunday, July 1st 1838 the Parish Constable at Lacey Green, Solomon Claydon, saw several men Fighting at Lacey Green for above an hour; they insulted every person they saw. Constable Claydon went to Ginger's beer shop at 3 0'clock to tell Ginger to shut up shop and said there was a great deal of noise from the house, which started as a dispute over a pint of beer. The constable saw the accused and there were as many as 20 people in the room. The constable then went up the road as far as the windmill and when he went back at 5 o'clock he found that Ginger had not shut up the house, the same people were there making a great disturbance and some were in liquor. They were insulting passers by and there was a great deal of swearing. He cleared the house and they went out peacefully.

The Constable then went to his home in Loosley Row about 6 o'clock and had not been there above three minutes when he was told there was a fight in John Dell's Cow Meadow, Lacey Green. The Constable went up there and saw James Morris and James Buckingham fighting; he parted them and Morris went quietly home. The constable then ordered the others out of the field, but he saw William Stone strike Ricard Buckingham, so he then took Stone into custody.

At the same time there was a religious Camp Meeting taking place in the Kiln road with two or three Preachers - one was Mr Tompkins the wheelwright of Loosley Row standing on the back of a wagon preaching. They were there two hours praying and singing. This was between the two services at St John's Church.

After the Camp Meeting had finished, some of the congregation retired to Ginger's beer shop, but the preachers did not go in. Then another fight began in or near the above.

Witness, Mr William Amos Westoby, who was staying with Sir George Stephen and family at Loosley House, was returning from the St John's Church service about half past seven o'clock in the evening of July 1st. He saw a great number of people assembled at Ginger's beer shop. He went to speak to Ginger on the impropriety of allowing people to assemble in his house on the Sabbath Day. He estimated that there were between ten to twenty people in the beer shop, half drunk.

Witness William Barrett said; "I was going to Lacey Green on July 1st between 5 and 6 o'clock and saw a great number of persons assembled in the road between the Chapel ( Methodist Chapel no 1) and near Ginger's beer shop. The road was full of men and women who were all making a great deal of noise".

Other witnesses reported similar occurrences that day in and outside Ginger's beer shop, near the Chapel, in the cow meadow and in the road.

The case was held at the Magistrates' Chambers, Aylesbury on July 14th 1838.

A Henry Lee was discharged, there not being sufficient evidence to prove that he took part in the riot.

James Tanner and James Morris were bond over to appear in their recognizance of £20 each at the Quarter Sessions.