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West End riots: shops looted by rioters, 1886
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West End riots: shops looted by rioters, 1886
Articles of plunder from shops, used as missiles during the 1886 West End riots. At an open air meeting of unemployed East End dock workers and artisans in Trafalgar Square, the people were stirred to violence following incendiary speeches, and rioted, causing havoc in the fashionable streets of the West End. Date: 1886
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Media ID 14395858
© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans
1886 Damage Jun16 Looted Looting Missiles Plunder Protest Riot Rioting Riots Stolen Theft Violence
EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures the chaos and destruction wrought by the 1886 West End Riots in London. The image shows a collection of articles of plunder, which had once been the prized possessions of shopkeepers in the fashionable district. The items, now used as missiles, lie scattered on the ground amidst the debris of shattered windows and damaged merchandise. The riots were ignited by an open-air meeting in Trafalgar Square, where unemployed East End dock workers and artisans gathered to voice their grievances. The crowd was incited by inflammatory speeches, and the situation quickly escalated into violence. The West End, known for its upscale shops and elegant residences, became the target of the rioters' wrath. The 1880s in London were a time of social and economic unrest. Unemployment was rampant, and the living conditions for the working class were deplorable. The situation was further exacerbated by a harsh economic climate and a sense of despair among the populace. The West End Riots were a manifestation of this deep-seated frustration and anger. The photograph serves as a poignant reminder of the turbulent times in London's history, and the power of words to incite violence and chaos. It also underscores the stark contrast between the haves and the have-nots, and the devastating consequences of social and economic inequality.
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