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The Public Ledger (London)

Thursday July 17 1766 

“On Monday last, great rejoicing was made at Otterton in the county of Devon, by the direction of John Duke Esq. for the repeal of the late Cyder Act. The day was begun with beat of drum, music playing and bells ringing. A procession was made by a great number of the inhabitants, of the said parish, both men and women, through that place and the neighbouring villages, all arranged in due order, attended with a drum beating, several sorts of music, flags displayed and all of them decorated with handsome favours etc etc. too long to mention, which made a grand appearance. A bullock was roasted and distributed amongst the people with vast quantities of bread and plenty of liquor.  The evening was concluded with a bonfire, illuminations and drinking the health of the King, Queen and Royal family and afterwards all those patriotic gentlemen who exerted themselves in obtaining a repeal of that Act which imposed a burden so grievous to be borne by those cyder counties.  Joy was visible in every countenance and was expressed by the loud acclamations of a vast concourse of people, assembled together from that and the adjacent parishes, on this happy occasion.” 

The Cider Act was one of the taxes raised by the government of George III in 1762.  Britain was heavily in debt at the end of the Seven Years War and imposing this new tax of 4/- per hogshead of cider was just one of several measures taken. 

That the act was unpopular is an understatement, the M.P’s representing the cider producing counties of England, tried unsuccessfully to prevent the bill becoming law.  One cause of its unpopularity was that the tax was to be collected by the Excise Service, who were hated in the West Country, the excise men would have to visit and investigate every apple grower in the area, tenant and landowner alike, and the number of government agents would have had to increase enormously for the tax to be collected.  

Compiled by Roz Hickman 2009

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