Riot Act felt uncertain of their power to take action to stop the riots without a reading of the Riot Act. After the riots, Lord Mansfield observed that the Riot Act did not take away the pre-existing power of the authorities to use force to stop a violent riot; it only created the additional offence of failing to disperse after a reading of the Riot Act. The Riot Act was read prior to the Peterloo Massacre of 1819, as well as prior to the Bristol Riots at Queen's Square in 1831. Both are held to be related to the Unreformed House of
Peterloo Massacre It was unveiled on 10 December 2007 by the Lord Mayor of Manchester, Councillor Glynn Evans. Under the heading "St. Peter's Fields: The Peterloo Massacre", the new plaque reads: In 1968, in celebration of its centenary, the Trades Union Congress commissioned British composer Sir Malcolm Arnold to write the "Peterloo Overture". Other musical commemorations include "Ned Ludd Part 5" on British folk rock group Steeleye Span's 2006 album "Bloody Men", and Rochdale rock band Tractor's suite of five songs written and recorded in 1973, later included on their 1992 release "Worst Enemies". Peterloo Massacre The Peterloo Massacre occurred at St