Protest and Struggle

Explores places in England and Wales from the Peasants’ Revolt to recent years which have witnessed historic struggles against the authorities of the day and mass protest through the ages. The history of England and Wales can be told in many ways. One of the most powerful threads running through this history is the story of popular protest and struggle. Many events are famous, like the Tolpuddle Martyrs and the Peterloo Massacre, but others are much less so, such as Britain’s longest-running strike at Burston school in Norfolk. From the flashpoints of the Peasants’ Revolt in 1381, through the Diggers’ encampments in Surrey in 1649–50 and the Chartist uprising in Newport in 1839, to Orgreave Cokeworks during the Miners’ Strike in 1984, there are locations of clashes and protest over rights, representation, work, land use, taxes and much more. Other examples of resistance include the foundation of the co-operative movement, and the building of Chartist, Owenite and Tolstoyan communities. Protest and Struggle: 50 Historic Sites in England and Wales will appeal to all those who want to know more about the history of popular uprisings against injustice in England and Wales. Through this book, readers today can revisit these sites and discover fascinating stories from the rich history of protest, struggle and resistance across the centuries.