Connecting Collections – England’s Grievance Discovered
Dr. Ruth Connolly explores a pamphlet by Ralph Gardiner (b. 1625) protesting Newcastle's coal trade monopoly and condemning the city's 1649-1650 witch trials.
This pamphlet was published in 1655 by Ralph Gardiner, a resident of the North East of England. In it, Gardiner criticises the control that the Hostmen of Newcastle held over the coal trade—a powerful monopoly that, he argued, harmed both local workers and the wider public.
The work combines legal arguments, personal accounts, and printed documentation to make the case against the coal monopoly. It reflects broader concerns in mid-17th century England about trade, fairness, and the role of local power in national affairs.
The pamphlet also includes a folded engraved map of the River Tyne, running from the mouth of the river at the North Sea inland to Newcastle. The map is oriented with west at the top and east at the bottom, which was common for the time. It shows the course of the river in detail, with surrounding settlements such as South Shields, Jarrow, Hebburn, Gateshead, and Newcastle clearly labelled. Key features of the coal industry—including pits, loading staithes, and the location of the Hostmen’s control points—are also marked, giving a spatial dimension to Gardiner’s economic arguments.
Beyond economic protest, Gardiner also turns his attention to the Newcastle witch trials. He condemns the actions of local officials and witch-finders involved in the persecution of women accused of witchcraft. These trials, which took place in 1649–50, led to the execution of at least fifteen women on scant evidence, largely driven by fear, superstition, and opportunism. Gardiner highlights the injustice of these events and questions the legality of the trials. One of the most striking illustrations shows women being hanged on suspicion of witchcraft, while the hangman, bellman, two sergeants, and the witch-finder are depicted receiving payment for his work.
Also included is an early printed image of a witch’s bridle—a brutal iron device designed to silence and punish accused women, often worn during public humiliation or interrogation. Its inclusion serves as a powerful visual reminder of the cruelty faced by those caught up in the witch hunts.
Dr Ruth Connolly, Senior Lecturer in English Literature, Language and Linguistics, explores England’s Grievance Discovered in more detail in this Newcastle University Connecting Collections video.
