The aim of our project is to raise funds to erect a marble memorial in St Michael’s Church, Hernhill, to the casualties of the Battle of Bossenden Wood, 1838, an uprising by agricultural workers put down by the army, and to increase knowledge of the historical and political significance of the Battle – the last on English soil.
The uprising was one of the last in a series of rebellions by agricultural workers that, as E.P. Thompson shows, were formative in the development of the working-class movement in this country. It was an event of local and national historical significance that has not been given the attention it deserves. One soldier (Lt Bennett) was killed in the Battle and was buried with full military honours in Canterbury Cathedral, where there is a marble memorial to him.
The bodies of the farm workers who were killed were buried in unmarked graves in the churchyard of St Michael’s, Hernhill. Until recently, there had been no memorial for them. A wooden board was recently put up in the churchyard, which lists their names and ages but gives no explanation of the circumstances of their deaths. They deserve a more fitting and permanent memorial.
We wish to publicise the Battle and uprising by erecting such a memorial inside Hernhill Church, accompanied by a booklet about the movement that led to it and how it has contributed to the struggle for a less exploitative and more equal society. We will hold an inaugural launch at Hernhill Church, provide an explanatory notice next to the memorial to Lt Bennett in Canterbury Cathedral, and publicise these activities through the press, broadcast and social media. We hope to change the perception of these historic events away from the current ‘riot’ emphasis to ensure full recognition of the circumstances which gave rise to the Battle and its place in the long history of movements to improve working and living conditions for all. For more info, see the following article and illustration of the proposed memorial, together with the Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/bbwmemorialgroup/, which you are most welcome to join.
Article:
Illustration of the proposed memorial:
Donations:
Donations to enable the completion of this important local historic project will be gratefully received and should be sent to the following:
Account name: Battle of Bossenden Wood Memorial Group, Account No. 55405085; Sort Code: 23-05-80.
Cheques payable to Battle of Bossenden Wood Memorial Group can be sent to the organiser: Professor Sean Sayers, 66 Havelock Street, Canterbury CT1 1NP.
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