The Saw Grinders of Dore

Sheffield Outrages Come to Dore

This advertisement appeared in the Sheffield Independent on 17th June 1854. The shooting of Elisha Parker was one of several major incidents of the Sheffield Outrages. Elisha, who ran the Dore post office, was employed as saw grinder at Newbould's Bridgefield Works, Sheffield Moor. Elisha had continued to work there despite pressure from the union as Newbould was employing non-union workers.

As early as 1843 sabotage had occurred at the Globe Works. The explosion was even reported by Friedrich Engels in his 'Condition of the Working Class [1844]'. Several Sheffield unions instigated serious attacks including attempted murder, gunpowder explosions, industrial sabotage and murder. The dispute between the unions and those working for non-union employers, and not paying their dues to the union, continued for several years.

A Royal Commission was set up and in 1867 an enquiry was held into the Sheffield trade outrages. The enquiry took 25 days, and contained 23,539 numbered paragraphs of verbatim question and answer. Elisha Parker and John Taylor, both of Dore, gave evidence. Following the conclusion of the enquiry the legal status of trade unions was recognised by the passing of the Trade Union Act in 1871.

Elisha was not the only Dore resident caught up in the dispute with the Saw Grinders and other unions. We will be returning to this topic in a future post to give you the background and the stories of the Dore workers involved.