I've long known about the 19th century's Tolpuddle Martyrs and have frequently seen a turn-off to the village signposted on the main A35 road connecting Phil's house in Poole with Brian's in Plympton. I've also often wondered what the village looked like along with others nearby. In fact, there are quite a few nearby places with 'puddle' in their name ... Affpuddle, Briantspuddle (Brian, is this anything to do with you?), and Puddletown. And, if these names appear strange, there's a further twist to the tale! They're all on the River Piddle! One can only suppose that the locals were not enthused living in, say, Piddletown and exchanged the i for a u. After all one meaning of the work piddle is 'to urinate' and another is to engage in trifling affairs.
Anyway, I had the opportunity a week or so ago to visit Tolpuddle and learn more about the Martyrs. It's an interesting story about agricultural workers in Dorset, who could barely survive on their paltry incomes paid by landowners who had also illegally grabbed public land for their operations. They began what might be termed a trade union and they were arrested for conspiracy at the instigation of one of the land-owners who also happened to be a magistrate and, after a wholly rigged trial, were sentenced to be transported to, of all places, Australia. So six men eventually arrived in NSW after a long voyage, but only for a short stay. Their case was raised in Parliament and orders were eventually issued for their return.
So tiny Tolpuddle ended up being a major cog in the evolution of the British Trade Union movement and today hosts a museum documenting the story. And, the museum does a good job in explaining the events and their historical importance. Phil and I spent quite little while listening to the various videos and inspecting other memorabilia.
A view of the River Piddle opposite the site of the museum.
The six Martyrs and the farmer who framed them.
Aspects of the lives of the rural poor.
AS
Anyway, I had the opportunity a week or so ago to visit Tolpuddle and learn more about the Martyrs. It's an interesting story about agricultural workers in Dorset, who could barely survive on their paltry incomes paid by landowners who had also illegally grabbed public land for their operations. They began what might be termed a trade union and they were arrested for conspiracy at the instigation of one of the land-owners who also happened to be a magistrate and, after a wholly rigged trial, were sentenced to be transported to, of all places, Australia. So six men eventually arrived in NSW after a long voyage, but only for a short stay. Their case was raised in Parliament and orders were eventually issued for their return.
So tiny Tolpuddle ended up being a major cog in the evolution of the British Trade Union movement and today hosts a museum documenting the story. And, the museum does a good job in explaining the events and their historical importance. Phil and I spent quite little while listening to the various videos and inspecting other memorabilia.
A view of the River Piddle opposite the site of the museum.
The six Martyrs and the farmer who framed them.
Aspects of the lives of the rural poor.
AS
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