Leicester Balloonatics

Started by magirob, September 01, 2017, 10:07:06 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

magirob

I thought this was an interesting piece of information, I heard it referenced on a podcast recently so had to look it up.

Back in 1864, Henry Coxwell had been testing a new form of transport, the hot air balloon, he had already had one successful flight in his balloon which he called The Mammoth, his next demonstration was to be at Leicester racecourse where 50,000 people gathered to see his larger more impressive balloon The Britannia.

Onlookers seemed disappointed with the new hot air balloon claiming it was small and old looking, the crowd soon turned against Henry Coxwell and the balloon pilot eventually ripping the balloon to shreds. The people of Leicester soon became known as the Leicester balloonatics.

Source - //http://www.ernestjournal.co.uk/blog/2017/6/8/leicester-balloon-riot
and      - //http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-magazine-monitor-28674654