The Nottingham Cheese Riot

🧀 The Nottingham Cheese Riot: When a Wheel of Cheese Sparked a Revolution

Category: History | Food Riots | British Curiosities

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When Cheese Turned to Chaos

In the autumn of 1766, the English town of Nottingham became the unlikely stage for one of the strangest and most chaotic food riots in British history. The cause? Not politics, not religion—but cheese. Specifically, cheddar cheese, and the soaring price of it.

Yes, you read that right. In a moment of economic tension, social unrest, and widespread hunger, angry crowds launched a full-blown riot over cheese, and the story is every bit as bizarre—and illuminating—as it sounds.

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Backdrop: Britain in Crisis

The mid-1760s were not easy years for the common people of Britain. A series of poor harvests led to widespread grain shortages, pushing up food prices across the board. In Nottinghamshire and surrounding counties, the situation had grown especially tense.

When traders arrived at the Nottingham Goose Fair—a major market that drew vendors from all over the country—bringing massive wheels of cheddar from counties like Derbyshire and Leicestershire, desperate buyers expected to find fair prices.

Instead, they found cheese prices doubled, possibly tripled. Wholesalers were reportedly hoarding stock or exporting it elsewhere for more profit.

That’s when things unraveled.

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The Riot Begins

The Nottingham Cheese Riot broke out in early October 1766 during the Goose Fair. What began as grumbling among local buyers quickly turned into full-blown mob action. Hundreds of residents, already frustrated by hunger and injustice, began seizing cheese by force from merchants.

According to historical accounts:

• Cheese carts were overturned
• Wheels of cheddar were rolled down streets like cannonballs
• Stolen cheese was hurled from windows
• Some looters carried off cheese on their backs like smugglers

Police and authorities were overwhelmed. When the town’s militia tried to restore order, the crowd only grew more defiant. The riot spilled across several days and streets.

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A Fatal Escalation

Eventually, the violence turned deadly.

A detachment of soldiers was summoned to break the riot. During one clash, a man named William Stevenson was shot and killed. Others were wounded. The town was left shaken—not only by the tragedy but by how quickly the social fabric had unraveled over something as simple as dairy.

But for many, cheese wasn’t the point. Cheese was the symbol. The real issue was food insecurity, exploitation, and social inequality.

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Aftermath and Legacy

The government responded with predictable severity. Authorities made arrests and used the event to justify tougher controls. But across England, similar riots—over bread, flour, or meat—broke out in the same year.

The Nottingham Cheese Riot became a cautionary tale, cited in newspapers and political debates for decades. It also sparked a deeper conversation around fair trade, food justice, and class struggle.

Today, the story lives on in Nottingham’s folklore. At one time, there were even calls to commemorate the event with a plaque or even a cheese-rolling festival (not unlike the famous Gloucestershire one).

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Key Characters & Moments

• Local Traders: Accused of price gouging, they were the initial targets of the mob
• William Stevenson: Civilian killed during the unrest, his death marked a turning point
• Militia & Soldiers: Called to suppress the violence, they used deadly force
• The Mob: Mostly poor laborers and townspeople frustrated by starvation and greed

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Conclusion: A Riot to Remember

The Nottingham Cheese Riot might sound absurd on the surface, but it’s a powerful reminder of how deeply food is tied to dignity, justice, and survival. When systems fail to provide the basics, even the most unlikely items—like a wheel of cheddar—can become flashpoints for revolution.

So the next time you enjoy a slice of cheese, remember: in 1766, in Nottingham, it nearly started a revolution.

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Tags:

#CheeseRiot #Nottingham1766 #BritishHistory #FoodRiots #HistoricalEvents