Mark Crail

Mark Crail

@markcrail.bsky.social

Chartism and other #C19th stuff, chartistancestors.co.uk. Author of Tracing Your Labour Movement Ancestors and Chartist Lives, EC member @sslh.bsky.social. Science fiction reader.

3.5K followers703 following1.5K posts

Mark Crail
@markcrail.bsky.social

John Arnott, Chartist poet and songwriter, general secretary of the National Charter Association, was born at Chesham, Buckinghamshire, #OnThisDay 22 October 1799. www.chartistancestors.co.uk/john-arnott-...

chartistancestors.co.ukJohn Arnott, 1799 - 1868 - chartist ancestorsRemembered as a writer and performer of Chartist songs and as General Secretary of the National Charter Association, John Arnott remained true to the cause in later life. This is his life story.
Mark Crail
@markcrail.bsky.social

John Cleave, radical London publisher, leading light in the London Working Men’s Association, and Chartist, was born #OnThisDay 22 October 1796. His story is one of many in my book Chartist Lives www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0G3Q7PR7Y

amazon.co.ukChartist Lives: Forty-two pen portraits that tell the stories of Chartist leaders and activists: Amazon.co.uk: Crail, Mark: 9798269123264: BooksBuy Chartist Lives: Forty-two pen portraits that tell the stories of Chartist leaders and activists by Crail, Mark (ISBN: 9798269123264) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery...

Mark Crail reposted

Mark Crail
@markcrail.bsky.social

New book: Shout for Freedom, about the sonic history of #Chartism. Its author, David Kennerley, spoke at Chartism Day this year. Looking forward to reading this. chartistancestors.blog/2026/10/16/b...

chartistancestors.blogBook: Shout for Freedom: a sonic history of ChartismFrom the clank of machinery to the beauty of birdsong, the tramp of marching feet to the exhilaration of a dance, the cheering of crowds to the silence of prison, sound was central to Chartism. Now…

Mark Crail reposted

Henry Miller
@henryjmiller.bsky.social

Just started reading this book, and enjoying it very much. Highly recommended

Mark Crail@markcrail.bsky.social

New book: Shout for Freedom, about the sonic history of #Chartism. Its author, David Kennerley, spoke at Chartism Day this year. Looking forward to reading this. chartistancestors.blog/2026/10/16/b...

chartistancestors.blogBook: Shout for Freedom: a sonic history of ChartismFrom the clank of machinery to the beauty of birdsong, the tramp of marching feet to the exhilaration of a dance, the cheering of crowds to the silence of prison, sound was central to Chartism. Now…
Mark Crail
@markcrail.bsky.social

New book: Shout for Freedom, about the sonic history of #Chartism. Its author, David Kennerley, spoke at Chartism Day this year. Looking forward to reading this. chartistancestors.blog/2026/10/16/b...

chartistancestors.blogBook: Shout for Freedom: a sonic history of ChartismFrom the clank of machinery to the beauty of birdsong, the tramp of marching feet to the exhilaration of a dance, the cheering of crowds to the silence of prison, sound was central to Chartism. Now…
Mark Crail
@markcrail.bsky.social

Enjoyed the great collection of ceramics at the Fitzwilliam Museum on a recent visit to Cambridge. Couldn’t find any Chartist or Peterloo stuff, but liked this of Marat very much not in his bathtub

Mark Crail
@markcrail.bsky.social

I bought this at auction recently. It arrived with printouts providing information on Peter Hoey and John Fielden. I was amused to find that the Hoey document was printed from my own website.

Mark Crail reposted

History of Parliament
@histparl.bsky.social

The 1832 Reform Act made drastic changes to the electoral system, including expanding the right to vote. Dr Philip Salmon looks at the different (and sometimes quite unusual) ways in which people could qualify for the franchise after 1832. @victoriancommons.bsky.social

historyofparliament.comWho could vote? From potwallopers to ten-pounders: post-1832 franchises explained - The History of ParliamentPhilip Salmon examines who could vote following the changes made by the ‘Great’ Reform Act of 1832. This article covers the system which was in operation until the next major Reform Act in 1867.
Mark Crail
@markcrail.bsky.social

I am concerned that some of my ancestors may have come here in small boats in the 7th century, so I’m not English. Or perhaps I’m English and the Romano-Brits my Jutish ancestors displaced aren’t. Maybe Suella can untangle this for me.

Tim Bale@timbale.bsky.social

I mean, what is wrong with these people? Have they not got enough to do or something?

Mark Crail reposted

Mark Crail
@markcrail.bsky.social

#Chartism #Historian In 1958, A.R.Schoyen write a fantastic biography of the Chartist editor and activist George Julian Harney (titled The Chartist Challenge). But then, apparently, nothing. I’ve often wondered who he was and what became of him… chartistancestors.blog/2026/09/23/t...

chartistancestors.blogThe Chartist Challenge: in search of A.R.SchoyenI have often wondered about the author of The Chartist Challenge. Published in 1958 and still an indispensible biography of the Chartist editor and activist George Julian Harney, the book reveals n…
Mark Crail
@markcrail.bsky.social

#Chartism #Historian In 1958, A.R.Schoyen write a fantastic biography of the Chartist editor and activist George Julian Harney (titled The Chartist Challenge). But then, apparently, nothing. I’ve often wondered who he was and what became of him… chartistancestors.blog/2026/09/23/t...

chartistancestors.blogThe Chartist Challenge: in search of A.R.SchoyenI have often wondered about the author of The Chartist Challenge. Published in 1958 and still an indispensible biography of the Chartist editor and activist George Julian Harney, the book reveals n…

Mark Crail reposted

Society for the Study of Labour History
@sslh.bsky.social

Missed this year's Chartism Day, or wish to revisit the highlights? Mark Crail @markcrail.bsky.social reports on a memorable day at the Friends Meeting House in Warwick. Read his report on the latest research on Chartism here: sslh.org.uk/2026/09/22/c...

sslh.org.ukChartism Day 2026: conference reportSome fifty delegates crowded into the seventeenth-century Friends Meeting House at Warwick on Saturday 19 September for Chartism Day 2026 to hear speakers range across the history and historiograph…
Mark Crail
@markcrail.bsky.social

James Watson, radical London publisher, ‘blasphemer’, organiser of the 1834 Copenhagen Fields meeting to demand the return of the Tolpuddle Martyrs, was born at Malton, Yorkshire, #OnThisDay 21 September 1799. www.chartistancestors.co.uk/james-watson...

chartistancestors.co.ukJames Watson, 1799 - 1874 - chartist ancestorsJames Watson was one of the quartet of radical London publishers who were at the heart of the battle of the unstamped press and later went on to form the London Working Men's Association. Influenced b...

Mark Crail reposted

Mark Crail
@markcrail.bsky.social

The funeral of the “Bethnal Green Martyr” Joseph Williams took place #OnThisDay 16 September 1849 at Victoria Park Cemetery. Williams, a prominent Chartist, died in Tothill Fields gaol after being convicted of making seditious speeches at Clerkenwell Green www.chartistancestors.co.uk/joseph-willi...

chartistancestors.co.ukJoseph Williams, 1809-1849 - chartist ancestorsJoseph Williams was imprisoned in 1848 after speaking at a series of meetings at Clerkenwell
Mark Crail
@markcrail.bsky.social

The funeral of the “Bethnal Green Martyr” Joseph Williams took place #OnThisDay 16 September 1849 at Victoria Park Cemetery. Williams, a prominent Chartist, died in Tothill Fields gaol after being convicted of making seditious speeches at Clerkenwell Green www.chartistancestors.co.uk/joseph-willi...

chartistancestors.co.ukJoseph Williams, 1809-1849 - chartist ancestorsJoseph Williams was imprisoned in 1848 after speaking at a series of meetings at Clerkenwell

Mark Crail reposted

Grand Admiral Shaun Duke
@shaunduke.net

Fun fact: if you're looking for space opera novels written by cisgender women, trans, and non-binary authors, I've got a handy spreadsheet just for you! I've maintained this list for several years, and it's still growing! #sciencefiction #books Give it a look. Bookmark it! tiny.cc/spaceoperali...

Mark Crail reposted

Dave Steele
@drdavesteele.bsky.social

I’m on Glasgow Green, site of the 1838 launch of the People’s Charter by Rev. Arthur Wade . This is a massive public space which could easily have accomdated the reported 100,000 crowd

Mark Crail
@markcrail.bsky.social

Amused by the handful of complete strangers who blocked me after I posted without comment the Guardian story about this year’s Ig-nobel prize winners. Surely they can’t all have been rich people who steal children’s sweets?

Mark Crail reposted

INDY-HIST
@indy-hist.bsky.social

Chartism Day 19 Sept 2026 Warwick Chartism Day was launched in 1995 by Chartist historian Dorothy Thompson (1923–2011) This year's event is at the Friends Meeting House, Warwick Tickets £12 inc. refreshments and buffet lunch: tinyurl.com/chartismday

Mark Crail
@markcrail.bsky.social

If you were involuntarily leaving England for a new life in Australia in the 19th century, this is where you would have boarded ship. Millbank, between Vauxhall Bridge and Tate Britain.

Mark Crail reposted

Dave Steele
@drdavesteele.bsky.social

I’m looking forward to Chartism Day. I’ll be giving a paper on local Chartist, Rev. Arthur Wade

INDY-HIST@indy-hist.bsky.social

Chartism Day 19 Sept 2026 Warwick Chartism Day was launched in 1995 by Chartist historian Dorothy Thompson (1923–2011) This year's event is at the Friends Meeting House, Warwick Tickets £12 inc. refreshments and buffet lunch: tinyurl.com/chartismday