Place record MDO47729 - Tolpuddle

'Tolpuddle Martyrs'. Six labourers from Tolpuddle (SY 7994) were convicted at Dorchester on March 19th 1834 of 'administering unlawful oaths' (i.e. trade union activity), and were sentenced to seven years' transportation <1>. In the village are several monuments commemorating the event.

A late 18th or early 19th century cottage and barn at SY 79499441 are notable as the reputed meeting-place of the 'Tolpuddle Martyrs'. <2>

The T.U.C. Memorial Cottages at SY 788945 were designed in 1934, and a headstone, of the same date, in the church, commemorates one of the 'Martyrs'. <3>

A seat known as the "Martyrs' Memorial" at SY 792945 was given to the National Trust in 1934. <4>

Martyn's Cottage. Graded for its historical importance as the meeting place of the Tolpuddle Martyn. The headstone in the churchyard (auth 3) is a memorial to James Hammett, the only `Martyr' to return to Tolpuddle. <5>

<1> Rhys, E, 1940, Dictionary of Dates, 402 (Monograph). SDO20443.

<2> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 2, 290 (Monograph). SDO149.

<3> Newman, J, and Pevsner, N, 1972, The Buildings of England: Dorset, 426-427 (Monograph). SWX1290.

<4> National Trust, 1973, Properties of the National Trust, 70 (Monograph). SWX3225.

<5> Department of the Environment, 1987, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest: Dorset (Parishes of Athelhampton, Burleston, Charminster, Cheselbourne, Dewlish, Puddletown, Stinsford, Tincleton, Tolpuddle, West Stafford and Woodsford), 100 (Scheduling record). SDO16448.

<6> National Record of the Historic Environment, 454924 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 23 2024 3:33PM