Tolpuddle martyrs - The historical events, Cultural and historical significance, Image gallery

The name give to six agricultural labourers at Tolpuddle, Dorset, S England, UK, who were organized in 1833 into a local trade union by a Methodist preacher, George Loveless (1796–1874). Poverty, unemployment, relocation of jobs, increased mechanization, and poor harvests led to protests. The labourers were convicted of taking illegal oaths, and transported to Australia. The action provoked substantial protests, and the labourers were eventually pardoned.

The Tolpuddle Martyrs were a group of 19th century British labourers who were arrested for and convicted of swearing a secret oath as members of the Friendly Society of Agricultural Labourers.

The historical events

The Reform Act of 1832 made unions legal, and that year six men from Tolpuddle in Dorset founded the Friendly Society of Agricultural Labourers to protest against the gradual lowering of wages in the 1830s.

In 1834 James Frampton, a local landowner, wrote to the Prime Minister, Lord Melbourne, to complain about the union, invoking an obscure law from 1797 prohibiting people from swearing oaths to each other, which the Friendly Society had done.

They became popular heroes and all, except James Hammett, were released in 1836, with the support of Lord John Russell who had recently become Home Secretary.

Cultural and historical significance

There was a monument erected in their honour in Tolpuddle in 1934, and a sculpture of the martyrs made in 2001 stands in the village in front of the Martyrs Museum there.

An annual festival is held in Tolpuddle, organised by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) featuring a parade of banners from many trade unions, a memorial service, speeches and music. The festival is usually held in the third week of July - see Tolpuddle Martyrs festival

The story of Tolpuddle has enriched the history of trade unionism, but the significance of the Tolpuddle Martyrs continues to be debated since Sidney and Beatrice Webb wrote the History of Trade Unionism (1890) and continues with such works as Dr Bob James Craft Trade or Mystery (2001).

The Tolpuddle Martyrs were portrayed in the 1987 film Comrades, directed by Bill Douglas.

There are streets named in their honour in:

Islington, north London Taunton, Somerset Allerton, Liverpool

Image gallery

The Tolpuddle Martyrs' Museum.

Tolpuddle Martyrs' Festival in 2004.