Tolpuddle Martrys Museum

Following my visit to Shire Hall this week, I have today visited the Martyrs Museum in Tolpuddle near Dorchester. Having learnt the details of their trial in the courtroom, the full story of the labourers  plight can be learnt here.

The cottage where the clandestine meeting took place! 

I was interested to learn that Charles Wollaston was one of the Jury members. I have previously recorded that my impression of him was a very warm hearted gentleman. However I have discovered that he did not support the labourers, and sided with his step brother James Frampton, who was responsible for the case being brought to court in the first place. 

And it seems that the local vicar was also no help to the Tolpuddle men,  as he promised the labourers that he would be supportive,  but it seems he was in fact influenced by financial factors! Not an uncommon story!  

So a secret oath led to the men being deported to Australia! I will be careful whom I share my secrets with from now on! I will most certainly be crossing one bridge in Dorchester very carefully in the future, as it still has this sign attached to it!

The Shire Hall Project

Yesterday I visited the old Crown Court and cells at Shire Hall in High West Street, Dorchester.  The Shire Hall Project, with prospective support from the Heritage Lottery Fund is being developed as a historical visitor attraction. 

The former offices of the West Dorset District Council was used as a courthouse until 1955, and the courtroom and cells remain as they were originally designed for use in Georgian times. 

The project hopes to be fully open by summer 2017 following a second bid to the HLF. 

I can recommend a visit during August, and the dates of the guided family tours can be found at the Tourist Information Centre in Trinity Street. 

I visited with my 16 year old daughter, and she found it very interesting and informative, and she was very shocked to see the conditions that prisoners such as the Tolpuddle Martyrs faced in 1834. 

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