ABSTRACT
The spectacular outbreaks of Luddism in the Stockport district comprised a part of 'Lancashire Luddism', a regional phenomenon involving activities besides machine breaking, or Luddism in its narrowest sense, and activities in east Cheshire as well as Lancashire. Some have emphasised the role of criminals and other marginal men as central to the Luddite phenomenon. With a massive body of handloom weavers threatened by mechanisation, Stockport and its district would seem to provide an ideal case study for analysing conflicting interpretations. Two viewpoints may be treated briefly at the outset. There is no evidence from the Stockport district that Luddism was the product of government spies and agents provocateurs, which is in keeping with findings in most parts of the cotton districts. Those who emphasise indigenous workers' agitations can find much more support from the Stockport district than those who would stress the role of mercenary provocateurs.
