With all the talk about farmers protests across Britain, I figured I would dig up this article I wrote back in May about Terfysgoedd Beca (the Rebecca Riots) which, itself, were a series of protests by Welsh local farmers and agricultural workers in response to the levels of taxation at the time.

The Legacy of Terfysgoedd Beca:

There is almost no better place to come to for class struggle history than 19th century Cymru. After all, we have two very well-known periods of class related uprising during this time: the Merthyr Rising of 1831 and the later, perhaps resulting Rebecca Riots of 1839-1843. There were many such uprisings taking place throughout the British Empire, such as the Indian Rebellion of 1857, and Cymru was no exception to the growing demand for better rights within the Empire.

Often cited as England’s first colony, Cymru had been subject to centuries of “asset stripping” at the hands of the crown; Westminster establishment and, later, the Empire. By the coming of the 19th Century, where this asset stripping would reach new extremes with the arrival of the Industrial Revolution, the people of Cymru would grow wearied towards what they would rightfully feel was the unfair treatment of Welsh workers (which bordered very closely to the treatment of “serfs” in Imperial Russia).

Unlike India and other areas of the British Empire, Cymru was in a unique position (literally and figuratively) in that: A. it was rapidly becoming the “engine room” of the Empire, with it being rich in natural resources and therefore of great importance and B. it was the geographical neighbour of the mighty head of the Empire, meaning that, should Cymru rise up, it could issue an almighty sucker punch to its historical and geographical neighbour.

As mentioned, the Rebecca Riots followed on from the earlier Merthyr Rising and it would be a more lengthy, damaging affair than its predecessor. It would last for a period of four years and cover a larger area of Cymru – with the Rebecca Riots mostly occurring in (though not limited to) the west and middle of the country.

The desire for protest was caused by various factors. Firstly, poverty had grown out of control in the agricultural heartlands of Cymru – fueling a hunger for action.

Secondly, famine had arisen in the area, a side effect of a particularly lengthy (and terrible) spell of rain which had devastated the area and brought about a drastic fall in food and crop prices, which devastated agricultural Cymru further.

Then, perhaps most significantly, the cost of entering through turnpikes – toll gates/roads – had increased. So, in short, the income of the farmers had fallen; rent had risen and so too had the cost of day-to-day living. This then led to the beginning of the protests, which typically took place at the turnpikes.

The Rebecca Riots have become somewhat romanticised for the unusual, though effective, attire donned by the rioters. They would become “Merched Beca”, translated as “Rebecca’s Daughters”, and would wear 19th century Welsh feminine attire (consisting of a white gown, blackened or made up faces and/or a mask) with the leader of the riot donning the name “Rebecca” or “Beca”.

The origins of Rebecca can be traced back to the Bible, with a passage from Genesis 24:60, which says ‘And they blessed Rebekah and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them’.

The turnpikes would also bear witness to a choreographed, communicative chant between Rebecca and her daughters, which would go as follows:

Rebecca: “What is this my children? There is something in my way. I cannot go on….” Rioters: “What is it, mother Rebecca? Nothing should stand in your way,”

Rebecca: “I do not know my children. I am old and cannot see well.”

Rioters: “Shall we come and move it out of your way mother Rebecca?”

Rebecca: “Wait! It feels like a big gate put across the road to stop your old mother.” Rioters: “We will break it down, mother. Nothing stands in your way.”

Rebecca: “Perhaps it will open…Oh my dear children, it is locked and bolted. What can be done?” Rioters: “It must be taken down, mother. You and your children must be able to pass.”

Rebecca: “Off with it then, my children.”

This would, of course, precede the destruction of the turnspike by Beca’s “daughters”. Overall, it was a very effective way to riot – and drawing upon a biblical figure is doubly effective, as it surely added a scare into the hearts of the very oppressors who had wreaked havoc upon West-Cymru leading up to the Rebecca Riots (and who were no doubt continuing to do so during the whole ordeal).

There is a possible other inspiration for Beca, too.

Often overlooked is the clear connection between the style of the brave daughters of Rebecca (and, indeed, Rebecca herself) and an even older style of corporate, ritual punishment still present in Cymru at the time of the Rebecca Riots: “Ceffyl Pren” or, in English, the “Wooden Horse.”

Ceffyl Pren was the punishment where offenders within a Welsh town or village might be subject to humiliation by being attached to a wooden frame and paraded around the village/town for all to see. This might not appear to bear any immediate relevance to the Rebecca Riots but the jury responsible for this humiliation often concealed their identity by, what else, donning Welsh feminine attire; blackening/making up their faces and/or wearing a mask. A stark similarity which, quite possibly, was no accident. The jurors wearing this attire very likely inspired the daughters of Rebecca to do the same – it is also possible that members of the riots were also part of this jury.

Over time, the Riots shifted attention to the landlord class, who had risen the cost of rent for farmers during a time when they most needed leniency and extra support.

However, by this time towards the end of the Rebecca Riots in 1843 – the rioters were far less “rioters” and far more “protesters”. By the fall of 1843, the situation in west-Cymru had improved somewhat, meaning that the demand for action was slightly less desperate. There had, however, been the murder of a woman, Sarah Williams, on September 7th 1843 and this potentially ushered in a period of reflection and a raised awareness to the possibility that the riots were losing direction.

While not immediately successful, the riots did result in lessened tolls and rent prices. The lasting impact of the riots, however, is far greater – many enchanted by the call to action and its style. A time for action might again arise with Beca leading the charge.

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Sally George

Sally is a proud wife of a Welshman, editor & writer of Welsh Histories. She’s all about stories—that shout ‘anything Welsh.’ Drop her an email if you have an advice, insight, experience, or a story to share.