To provide you with the best experience, cookies are used on this site. Find out more here.
Accommodation in Dorset
Things To Do in Dorset
What’s On in Dorset
Explore & Discover Dorset
Welcome to the Itinerary Planner. Use this tool to build your own journey or choose from an exciting range of specially selected tours.
To build your own Itinerary, click to add an item to your Itinerary basket.
You are here: What's On > Tolpuddle Martyrs' Festival
Tolpuddle has been a place of great importance to the Labour Movement from the moment news broke of the harsh sentences imposed on the six farm workers from Dorset which led to the early inception of trade unions to support and protect worker’s rights.
The Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival is now a celebration of those brave six farm labourers who endured harsh punishments at the hands of the establishment. Today the festival offers live music, local food, trade stalls, comedy and political debate.
Each year the event sees thousands visit the festival with the grand procession through the village being the highlight. The procession sees unions and trade groups from across the country march in solidarity while displaying their banners proudly.
A short drive from the village of Tolpuddle is Dorchester, home of the Shire Hall where the Tolpuddle Martyrs were tried. The Shire Hall is now open as a museum and visitor centre giving visitors the chance to see the restored courtroom and the terrifying cells below. Learn more of the prisoner’s stories and the brutal punishments handed down by the judges of the day.
Further details of the Topuddle Festival, the Tolpuddle Martyrs and the birth of the trade union movement can be found on the tolpuddlemartyrs.org.uk website.
Tolpuddle Martyrs' Festival 2020 (17 July 2020 - 19 July 2020) |
---|
Telephone: 01305 267992
Follow the signs from the A35 to the car parks. For campers and those unable to cope with a short walk, enter from the west of the village. For the main festival car park, enter from the east and turn right in the centre of the village.
Coaches are free, drop off and park to the east of the village, log your coach at www.tuc.org.uk/tolpuddlecoaches.
Telephone: 01305 267992
Athelhampton House & Gardens is one of the finest English manor houses, with beautiful…
Bringing history to life, with the world’s best collection of tanks and explosive live…
Enjoy a fun-filled, fascinating day out for all the family at Monkey World – Ape Rescue…
This museum, devoted to the wonderful world of the teddy bear, contains a wealth of bears…
Fossils, skeletons, life-size dinosaur reconstructions plus hands-on and multimedia…
Dorset County Museum closed in October 2018 for a two-year multi-million pound…
Executed for arson. Transported for asking for fair pay. Given six months hard labour for…
The world's greatest discovery of Ancient Treasure - Tutankhamun's tomb, treasures and…
Brewery Square is a vibrant and stylish regeneration in the heart of Dorchester which…
The Keep is the Military Museum of Devon and Dorset. Housed in an extraordinary…
The new £8 million centre provides the local community with a first-class swimming and…
From our hides, thrill at the sight of badgers emerging from their setts and foraging for…
Quad Biking (8yrs +) and shooting activities (12yrs+) - Thrills on the hills of Dorset!
Walk in the footsteps of Kings & Queens as you enjoy wide open spaces, historic buildings…
Eroded by time and nature, Durdle Door is one of Dorset’s most photographed and iconic…
Lulworth Outdoors are a passionate, lively group of outdoor pursuit instructors, based…
Copyright 2019 Visit Dorset. All Rights Reserved.