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P. 166

Side trip to Tolpuddle

From the turn-off on to the A35 at the i/s with the A354 in Dorchester:

5.5 mi 50.7440, -2.3666 Turn l. off the A35 s/p “Tolpuddle / Puddletown / Troy Town”.

3.5 mi 50.7494, -2.2938 Follow the signs to to Puddletown and on through Athelhampton
and Burleston to Tolpuddle.

To continue on to Salisbury . . .

Follow this road through Tolpuddle. It’s a pretty little village with with lots of thatch roofed
houses.

The Antique Map and Book shop is worth a browse it you like that sort of thing.

1.3 mi 50.7518, -2.2647 At the T i/s turn l. on to the B3390 s/p “Bournemouth / Poole (A35) /
Milborne St Andrew.

Pass under the A35 and on the other side, turn r. on to the A35 s/p “Bournemouth / Poole
A35”.

2.9 mi 50.7571, -2.2120 Follow the A35 the i/s with the A31 at Bere Regis.

Pick up the road notes above where is says 31.7 mi 50.9179, -1.5936 For the New Forest
and Beaulieu . . .

In the 1830s life in villages like Tolpuddle was hard and getting worse. Farm workers could
not bear yet more cuts to their pay. Some fought back by smashing the new threshing
machines but this brought harsh punishments.

In 1834, farm workers in west Dorset formed a trade union. Unions were lawful and growing
fast but six leaders of the union were arrested and sentenced to seven years’ transportation
for taking an oath of secrecy. A massive protest swept across the country. Thousands of
people marched through London and many more organised petitions and protest meetings
to demand their freedom.

The protest campaign proved successful and the Tolpuddle Martyrs returned home in
triumph.

The Tolpuddle story is about how ordinary working people combined together to defend
their families. The idea of solidarity as a basic human right is now an international demand.

Thus it was from here that the idea of industrial action to secure basic workers’ rights was
established.

There’s a Tolpuddle Museum centred on the protest.