
Tolpuddle Martyrs mural
Restoration of the mural
Copenhagen House, Copenhagen Street, N1 0SP
The Tolpuddle Martyrs are significant in the history of labour rights. After the French Revolution in 1789, the 'Combination Acts' were passed in England, prohibiting workers 'combining' to demand better wages. These laws were unpopular and were repealed in 1824. From 1825 trade unions were permitted although restricted. Another law from 1797, the 'Unlawful Oaths Act' against clandestine political association, remained. During the early 19th century agricultural recession, agricultural pay declined for farm labourers, particularly in southern England. Many labourers' families began receiving poor relief. In 1833 six men from the village of Tolpuddle in Dorset founded the Friendly Society of Agricultural Labourers as a friendly society to protest against the lowering of agricultural wages. In 1834, they were convicted through the Unlawful Oaths Act of swearing secret oaths and sentenced to penal transportation to Australia.
There were mass protests by sympathisers - 800,000 signatures were collected for their release and 100,000 people met in Copenhagen Fields to march to Parliament in Westminster, creating a 6 mile long procession. With support from the Home Secretary {later Prime Minister John Russell) they were pardoned in 1836 and returned to England (a 6 month journey by sea) between 1837 and 1839. Five of them later emigrated to Canada. The Tolpuddle Martyrs became a popular cause for the early union and workers' rights movements.
This mural was painted in 1984 on the flank wall of a pub, The Mitre, by artist David Bangs, celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Tolpuddle Martyrs demonstration. He used local people as models. The artwork was saved in the 1990s by a local activist, Lisa Pontecorvo, who after her death was painted into the mural. The Mitre pub closed in 2008 and was converted to apartments. A substantial section of the mural was lost at this time when the rear, single-storey extension to the pub was demolished.
By 2024, the mural had become significantly degraded and large areas had been covered over with graffiti. Heritage of London Trust offered a grant for the restoration of the mural, alongside engagement through our Proud Places programme and conservation training opportunities. In August 2024, the mural was re-painted by the building owner as part of wider repairs of the building. The Trust and Islington Council are now discussing ways of enhancing public awareness of the mural, improving its landscape setting and other fabric improvements which would help to ensure the mural’s long-term survival.
