Jeremiah Brandreth 1790-1817-
Jeremiah Brandreth was born in Wilford, Nottingham in 1790. Brandreth became a stockinger by trade and later moved to Sutton-in-Ashfield where he lived with his wife and three children. It is believed that in 1811 he took part in Luddite activities.

In May 1817 Brandreth met William Oliver from London. Oliver claimed that a large group of Radicals were planning an armed uprising in London on 9th June and asked Brandreth to persuade local workers to join the rebellion. This was untrue and it is now believed that Oliver was working as an agent provocateur for Lord Sidmouth, the Home Secretary.

On 9th June, Jeremiah Brandreth, led 300 men, armed with a few pistols and pikes, on a march to Nottingham and then on to London where Oliver had 50,000 men with arms prepared, and they would take the Tower of London,overthrow the Government, a proclaim a republic. On the way Oliver left the mob, leaving his victims successfully in the traps that he had prepared for them. Brandreth expected others to join him on the way to the city. This did not happen and the authorities had little difficulty dispersing the proposed insurrection, a troop of horse cavalry at Kimberly - near Nottingham - stopped them - the 3 ring leaders were originally sentenced to being hung, drawn and quartered, but the quartering was remitted. (this was after all, a treasonable offence!) - and another 14 were transported to Australia.

1817 November 7 Brandreth, Ludlam, and Turner, the "Pentrich Plotters", executed at Derby.Cavalry stood on guard during the execution.

The prisoners were first dragged round the prison yard on hurdles, were then hanged for half an hour, and their bodies afterwards cut down. Brandreth, Turner and Ludlam ascended the scaffold. On the word of a dying man, Brandreth tells that "Oliver brought us to this" - that, "but for Oliver, we would not have been there." See, too, Ludlam and Turner, with their sons and brothers, and sisters, how they kneel together in this dreadful agony of prayer. With that dreadful penalty before their eyes - with that tremendous sanction for the truth of all he spoke, Turner exclaimed loudly and distinctly, while the executioner was putting the rope round his neck, "This is all Oliver and the government." Troops of horse, with keen and glittering swords, hemmed in the multitudes collected to witness this abominable exhibition. The executioner then struck the heads off the bodies and seizing the head of Brandreth by the hair, showed the ghastly countenance to the multitude, exclaiming: "Behold the head of the traitor, Jeremiah Brandreth". The crowd, "as if under the impulse of a sudden frenzy," separated in all directions, but equanimity was restored, "and the separation and exhibition of the remaining heads was witnessed with the greatest order and decorum". The executioners were masked and their names were kept a profound secret. The poet Shelley witnessed the scene. The block is still to be seen in Derby Prison, where its wood hangs damp always damp - so it has been averred - it has given rise to the tradition that the block of the unhappy men has not dried and never will).