Scuttlers

Welcome to Victorian Manchester, where the streets throb with violence and teenage gangs are waging war. The Scuttler gangs pose a menace unlike any England has seen before. Groups calling themselves the Bengal Tigers and Meadow Lads prowl the cobbled streets, marked by their distinctive clothes and vicious weapons, including brutal brass belts. Battling for status, territory and bonded together by crushing poverty, the gangs of lads and lasses fight pitched battles of such intensity that the authorities fear the violence will spill into open warfare. In this episode, Dean, Chris and Yakub talk about the rise and fall of the Scuttlers, their fascination with fashion (including why they put butter in their hair), how the 19th century phenomenon sparked the birth of sports and social clubs (including Manchester City FC and Salford Lads Club) and the cult youth movement’s possible inspiration for Anthony Burgess' dystopian A Clockwork Orange.

 

Special thanks: Manchester BIPC Music; Image: Hardman Creative; Our podcast music was provided by The Podcast Host and Alitu: The Podcast Maker app.