Tolpuddle Martyrs

The Tolpuddle Martyrs were a group of 19th-century Welsh and English farm workers who formed a secret trade union to demand better wages and working conditions. In 1834, their efforts led to their arrest and imprisonment on charges of illegal oaths, which many saw as unfair and politically motivated. Their punishment sparked national outrage, highlighting the struggle for workers’ rights. Eventually, public pressure led to their release and the pardon of the group. Today, they are remembered as symbols of workers' solidarity and the fight for fair treatment in the workplace.