Scuttlers
Encyclopedia
Scuttlers were members of neighbourhood-based youth gang
s (known as scuttling gangs) formed in working-class areas of Manchester
, Salford
, and the surrounding townships during the late 19th century. It is possible to draw parallels with the London street gangs of the 1890s whose behaviour was labelled hooliganism
.
Gangs were formed throughout the slum
s of central Manchester, in the townships of Bradford, Gorton
and Openshaw
to the east and in Salford, to the west of the city. Gang conflicts erupted in Manchester in the early 1870s and went on sporadically for thirty years, declining in frequency and severity by the late 1890s.
Scuttling gangs were territorial fighting gangs. This was reflected in their names: the "Bengal Tigers" hailed from the cluster of streets and courts off Bengal Street in Ancoats
. Most gangs took their names from a local thoroughfare, such as "Holland Street" (Miles Platting
) or "Hope Street, Salford".
, cut like a sailor's ("bells" that measured fourteen inches round the knee and twenty-one inches round the foot) and "flashy" silk scarves. Their hair was cut short at the back and sides, but they grew long fringes, known as "donkey fringes", that were longer on the left side and plastered down on the forehead over the left eye. Peaked caps were also worn tilted to the left to display the fringe. The scuttlers' girlfriends also had a distinctive style of dress, consisting of clogs, shawl, and a vertically striped skirt.
Some of the clashes between rival gangs involved large numbers; the Gorton Reporter described one such instance in May 1879 as involving more than 500 people. Scuttling reached a peak in 1890–91; it was said that by 1890 more youths were held in Strangeways Prison
for scuttling than for any other offence.
By the turn of the century the gangs had all but died out due to the clearing of some of the worst slums, the setting up of Working Lads' Clubs (such as Salford Lads Club
) to engage the working youths in more peaceful activities, the spread of street football and the advent of the cinema
. One initiative to provide an alternative to gang warfare resulted in the formation of St Marks (West Gorton) Football Club, which later became Manchester City FC.
, attributed the gang culture to: lack of parental control, lack of discipline in schools, "base literature" and the monotony of life in Manchester's slums. In 1997 the Manchester historian Gary James highlighted that scuttling was the number one unifying activity of young men, and that the creation of St Mark's Football Club (which later evolved into Manchester City FC) was a very serious attempt at diverting the young men of West Gorton into more worthwhile activities. Anna Connell, perceived by many as the founder of St Mark's FC, also helped create men's meetings, a library, and other society improving facilities and clubs.
Gang
A gang is a group of people who, through the organization, formation, and establishment of an assemblage, share a common identity. In current usage it typically denotes a criminal organization or else a criminal affiliation. In early usage, the word gang referred to a group of workmen...
s (known as scuttling gangs) formed in working-class areas of Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, Salford
County Borough of Salford
Salford was, from 1844 to 1974, a local government district in the northwest of England, coterminate with Salford. It was granted city status in 1926.-Free Borough and Police Commissioners:...
, and the surrounding townships during the late 19th century. It is possible to draw parallels with the London street gangs of the 1890s whose behaviour was labelled hooliganism
Hooliganism
Hooliganism refers to unruly, destructive, aggressive and bullying behaviour. Such behaviour is commonly associated with sports fans. The term can also apply to general rowdy behaviour and vandalism, often under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs....
.
Gangs were formed throughout the slum
Slum
A slum, as defined by United Nations agency UN-HABITAT, is a run-down area of a city characterized by substandard housing and squalor and lacking in tenure security. According to the United Nations, the percentage of urban dwellers living in slums decreased from 47 percent to 37 percent in the...
s of central Manchester, in the townships of Bradford, Gorton
Gorton
Gorton is an area of the city of Manchester, in North West England. It is located to the southeast of Manchester city centre. Neighbouring areas include Longsight and Levenshulme....
and Openshaw
Openshaw
Openshaw is a ward of the city of Manchester, in Greater Manchester, North West England. It lies about two miles east of Manchester city centre. Historically a part of Lancashire, Openshaw was incorporated into the city of Manchester in 1890. Its name derives from the Old English Opinschawe, which...
to the east and in Salford, to the west of the city. Gang conflicts erupted in Manchester in the early 1870s and went on sporadically for thirty years, declining in frequency and severity by the late 1890s.
Scuttling gangs were territorial fighting gangs. This was reflected in their names: the "Bengal Tigers" hailed from the cluster of streets and courts off Bengal Street in Ancoats
Ancoats
Ancoats is an inner city area of Manchester, in North West England, next to the Northern Quarter and the northern part of Manchester's commercial centre....
. Most gangs took their names from a local thoroughfare, such as "Holland Street" (Miles Platting
Miles Platting
Miles Platting is an inner city district of Manchester, England. It is east-northeast of Manchester city centre, along the course of the Rochdale Canal and A62 road...
) or "Hope Street, Salford".
Dress
Scuttlers distinguished themselves from other young men in working-class neighbourhoods by their distinctive clothing. They generally wore a uniform of brass-tipped pointed clogs, bell-bottomed trousersBell-bottoms
Bell-bottoms are trousers that become wider from the knees downward. Related styles include flare, loon pants and boot-cut/leg trousers. Hip-huggers are bell-bottomed, flare, or boot-cut pants that are fitted tightly around the hips and thighs.-Naval origins:Bell-bottoms' precise origins are...
, cut like a sailor's ("bells" that measured fourteen inches round the knee and twenty-one inches round the foot) and "flashy" silk scarves. Their hair was cut short at the back and sides, but they grew long fringes, known as "donkey fringes", that were longer on the left side and plastered down on the forehead over the left eye. Peaked caps were also worn tilted to the left to display the fringe. The scuttlers' girlfriends also had a distinctive style of dress, consisting of clogs, shawl, and a vertically striped skirt.
Clashes
Gang members fought with a variety of weapons, but they all carried knives and wore heavy buckled belts, often decorated with pictures such as serpents, hearts pierced with arrows or women's names. The thick leather belts were their most prized possessions and were wrapped tightly around the wrist at the onset of a "scuttle", so that the buckle could be used to strike at opponents. The use of knives and belts was designed to maim and disfigure rather than to kill.Some of the clashes between rival gangs involved large numbers; the Gorton Reporter described one such instance in May 1879 as involving more than 500 people. Scuttling reached a peak in 1890–91; it was said that by 1890 more youths were held in Strangeways Prison
Manchester (HM Prison)
HM Prison Manchester is a high-security male prison situated in Manchester, England operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service. It is a local Prison, holding prisoners remanded into custody from the courts in the Manchester area as well as a number of Category A prisoners.HM Prison Manchester was...
for scuttling than for any other offence.
By the turn of the century the gangs had all but died out due to the clearing of some of the worst slums, the setting up of Working Lads' Clubs (such as Salford Lads Club
Salford Lads Club
Salford Lads Club is a boys and girls recreational club located in the Ordsall area of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England. The club was established in 1903 as a boys-only club, but today both boys and girls are welcome...
) to engage the working youths in more peaceful activities, the spread of street football and the advent of the cinema
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
. One initiative to provide an alternative to gang warfare resulted in the formation of St Marks (West Gorton) Football Club, which later became Manchester City FC.
Commentary
The social commentator, Alexander DevineAlexander Devine
Alexander Devine was a British educator and activist for Montenegrin independence.He became involved in social work at an early point, founding the Lads' Club Movement in 1887...
, attributed the gang culture to: lack of parental control, lack of discipline in schools, "base literature" and the monotony of life in Manchester's slums. In 1997 the Manchester historian Gary James highlighted that scuttling was the number one unifying activity of young men, and that the creation of St Mark's Football Club (which later evolved into Manchester City FC) was a very serious attempt at diverting the young men of West Gorton into more worthwhile activities. Anna Connell, perceived by many as the founder of St Mark's FC, also helped create men's meetings, a library, and other society improving facilities and clubs.