Rebecca Riots

THE REBECCA RIOTS

The Rebecca Riots happened between 1839 and 1842. They were a protest against the high tolls having to be paid on the Turnpike Roads. The term turnpike refers to a gate on which sharp pikes would be fixed as a defence against cavalry.

The many toll-gates on the roads in South Wales were operated by trusts which were supposed to maintain and even improve the roads. Some trusts were better than others with a lot of the money raised being diverted to other uses!

The Welsh did not like these tol gates at all! These toll-gate laws imposed an additional financial burden on this poor farming community and people decided that enough was enough. The people took the law into their own hands and gangs were formed to destroy the toll-gates. These gangs became known as the 'Rebecca Gangs'. They took their name from a piece in the Bible, Genesis XXIV verse 60 - 'And they blessed Rebekah and said unto her, Let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them'.

Others have suggested that the leader of this protest, Twn Carnabwth, reputedly wore womens clothes as a disguise when this attack was made (you could be hung for rioting in those days). Legend has it that these clothes were borrowed from a lady called Rebecca, hence the name Rebecca Riots.

Thomas Rees was the first 'Rebecca' and he destroyed the toll-gates at Yr Efail Wen in Carmarthenshire. The riots ceased after two of the ring leaders were caught and instead of being hung - were transported to Australia. According to local legend, the men laughed when they were given this punishment.

These protests must have had an influence. Eventually the authorities had to concede defeat and most of the hated toll-gates were legally removed in 1844. These toll-gates never appeared in South Wales again!