Ceremony commemorates those who fell at Peterloo

The 17 names were read out by John Henshaw followed by a minute's silence at 1pm, the time the attack began in 1819. Credit: Paul Fitzgerald

The names of those who died in the Peterloo Massacre have been read out in a ceremony in Manchester to mark the anniversary.

The 17 names were read out by John Henshaw followed by a minute's silence at 1pm, the time the attack began in 1819.

The memorial was held in St Peter's Square, close to where the first casualty was taken. Two-year-old William Fildes was tramped to death by a galloping soldier on the outskirts of the field.

Campaigners then tied artwork panels bearing the names of the dead to the St Peter's Cross monument in the square, using cloth ribbons, below which flowers have been laid.

The original site of Peterloo, St Peter's Field, derived its name from the church, whose location is marked by the cross.

A workshop is being held this afternoon at the Central Library to create Peterloo surname placards that can be taken to the Peterloo Names rally in Albert Square on Sunday.

The surname placards will be derived from the recently published list of the 1,600 people who were at Peterloo in 1819.

The public are invited to create a placard based on any of these surnames that resonate with them, be it through family, location or occupation, and to bring them to the rally.