The Ascott Martyrs were sixteen women some with babies in arms who were imprisoned in 1873 for supporting their striking farm worker husbands in the Oxfordshire village of Ascott-under-Wychwood. The traumatic event led to a major riot in Chipping Norton and a reprieve from Queen Victoria. Their legacy today is that picketing was made legal in 1874 and local religious leaders were no longer appointed as magistrates. The project will provide continued awareness in the local schools and the wider community as well as a national online centre for information and research. The next Martyrs Day is Saturday June 20th 2020. See https://www.ascottmartyrs.co.uk/
Where we are coming from is that a comprehensive study of the story would make an excellent graduate project even for a Masters, There are so many gaps yet to be researched (see below). If there are researchers who interested please get in touch.
• Martyrs’ photographs • Martyrs’ house locations and graves • Duke of Marlborough's and Queen Victoria’s role • Establishment keeping control of workers and their conditions • Magistrates no longer clerics/ process? • Agricultural Union……..picketing allowed/ law changes • Politics at the time • Religion…………. Church support for landowners, beginning of the end • Baptist v Protestant………..workers v establishment • Economic situation/emigration • Verification of presentations…petticoats and dress material • Verification of Queen Victoria’s reprieve and gift of red petticoats • Oxford Gaol……..conditions and making of quilt? • Post-strike unclear for strikers • Police Role * • Media 1873 * National Press support but not local>…why?
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