Great Balloon Riot of 1864

[Biggus]

This is a great read.  Notice who the blame was put on towards the end of the article.  Leicester folk could not be like this today methinks :>

 

...and why were Leicestrians also called "Chisits" ??

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-magazine-monitor-28674654

[Jimothy]

Chisits. Because when we ask "How much is it?" It sounds like "I'm a chisit"

[purpleronnie]

Riots were much better back then.  None of the balaclava wearing students smashing a window and then running home to mummy.

[lavrentis]

Riots were much better back then.  None of the balaclava wearing students smashing a window and then running home to mummy.

 

Do you even think anything modern is better

[purpleronnie]

Do you even think anything modern is better

That was a tongue in cheek reply lav.

[davieG]

That racecourse is now Victoria Park.

[Rincewind]

Sounds like it was a bundle of laughs. interesting story I had never heard it before.

 

"It is humiliating to think that after all the civilising influences which have been exerted upon them, so much of the savage should still linger in the blood of our working classes."

 

That racecourse is now Victoria Park.

 

Thought it was a bit far for the mob to march into the centre if it was Oadby.

[Buce]

This is a great read. Notice who the blame was put on towards the end of the article. Leicester folk could not be like this today methinks :>

...and why were Leicestrians also called "Chisits" ??

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-magazine-monitor-28674654

As I understand it (and it's only something I heard, so I can't vouch for it) it's a corruption of, "how much is it?".

Apparantly, historically, Leiceser people had a reputation for meanness; when asked if they wanted to buy goods or some service, their first question was always, " 'chisit?".

Edit: I see this was mentioned above. Apologies.

[Rincewind]

I was thinking that said christ. Never really thought about it but I never thought it sounded like chisit. Izzet ?

[Dr The Singh]

I was thinking that said christ. Never really thought about it but I never thought it sounded like chisit. Izzet ?

You were there Ken weren't you, how were homeless treated in those days????

[Finnaldo]

I like how they blamed it on Nottingham

[Rincewind]

You were there Ken weren't you, how were homeless treated in those days????

Much the same as they are today except there were more of them and more noticeable. Media coverage of their plight was virtually non existant but mainly because social media and the Mail and Guardiam did not cover the whole of the UK. If at all. The gentry traveled estate to estate for social gatherings and dinner parties never encountering the riff raff and poor except when running them over with their horse driven coaches. The really poor had few choices. The work house or take to the streets to pick a pocket or two. Some were unlucky and were caught and hung. The real unlucky ones were sent to Australia.

But there was hope. If one of their 12 children was a small boy he could be used to go up chimneys which brought a farthing  a week in, enough to buy a half a loaf to feed the family for a week. One difference in their favour was that  they did not have gas or electric bills and there was no need for water rates with there being no washing facilities or bathroom  in the house cos they shat out the window.

 

This is all true

[Bellend Sebastian]

There's no way I'm going to launch my balloon from here if that's how folk feel about it

[DANGEROUS TIGER]

I was only four then, so I don't remember.   

[bovril]

Balloon heads.

[DennisNedry]

I bet Bernie's great grandfather started it all off.

 

YA FACKIN BALLEWN WANKAS

[Finnaldo]

I bet Bernie's great grandfather started it all off.

YA FACKIN BALLEWN WANKAS

Probably just Bernie himself.