The annual wreath-laying ceremony at the grave of James Hammett, the only Martyr buried in the county, took place last week.
Chair of Dorset Council, Cllr Stella Jones MBE, and High Sheriff of Dorset, Mr Anthony Woodhouse, paid their respects with floral tributes at St John the Evangelist Churchyard.
The event was attended by Honorary Alderman Pauline Batstone, Founder Chairman / Heritage Ambassador of the Tolpuddle Old Chapel Trust; Mr Andrew McCarthy; and Trustee and Chairman of the Trust, Professor Philip Martin. This followed a tour of the recently renovated Tolpuddle Old Chapel.
The iconic chapel is pivotal to the Martyrs’ understanding of social injustice. Built in 1818, the Old Chapel is a Grade II* listed building and a rare example of an early nineteenth-century earthen vernacular Wesleyan Methodist Chapel. Some of the men who later became known as the Tolpuddle Martyrs constructed this chapel.
The chapel’s modest architectural features reflect the social history of the labouring people through the ages. It marks the origin of one of the most extraordinary social protests and parliamentary contentions in British history. From this small dot in the Dorset landscape, a massive controversy erupted over the rights of the labouring poor and their claims for just wages, religious independence, and legal protection.
The Tolpuddle Old Chapel Trust, formed in 2014, aims to preserve the Martyrs’ legacy by renovating the chapel. With generous support from Dorset Council, the National Heritage Lottery Fund, Historic England, and 11 charitable funding bodies, the renovation and extension were completed on 1st September 2023.
Today, Tolpuddle Old Chapel stands as a local and national asset, offering a rich program of heritage-related activities that serve both local needs and visitors’ interests.
Further information visit:
www.tolpuddleoldchapeltrust.org
