Plans to demolish Liversedge Luddite pub The Shears
An 18th Century pub with links to the Luddite rebellion could be replaced with housing after plans were submitted for its demolition.
The Shears Inn in Liversedge, West Yorkshire, would be levelled as part of plans sent to Kirklees Council. The Luddites were textile workers who felt their livelihoods were threatened by increasing mechanisation. A group gathered in the pub in April 1812 before ambushing wagons carrying new machinery. Andrew Mitchell bought the derelict pub 10 years ago but applied for planning permission on the advice of his accountant, reported the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Mr Mitchell said he had put nearly £500,000 into the building built in 1773 "but the licensing trade is struggling". Latest news and stories from Yorkshire Erica Amende, of Spen Valley Civic Society, said it would be a shame if "one of the few examples of working class history" was to be lost from the area. The textile workers gathered in an upstairs room of the pub before lying in wait on Hartshead Moor and ambushing wagons carrying cropping machines that could replace several workers. Shortly afterwards on April 12 in West Yorkshire's most notable attack, about 150 Luddites marched on Cartwright's Rawfolds mill in Cleckheaton but were repelled and two were killed. The ringleaders were later hanged. The Luddite rebellion (1811-13) Source: The Luddites at 200 Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk.