England Historical Facts

Dorset is the birthplace of the Trade Union Movement, started by the 'Tolpuddle Martyrs' - a group of 6 labourers who formed a trade union to protest against falling wages. They were sentenced to transportation to Australia but they were pardoned following massive protests by the working classes.

The county name of Dorset is derived from the town of Dorchester

The Monmouth Rebellion began at Lyme Regis, Dorset, and was a failed attempt by the Duke of Monmouth to overthrow James II. It ended in the Bloody Azzises - a series of trials that took place in the county town of Dorchester, which saw 74 of the accused executed, 175 transported, and 9 publically whipped.

In the English Civil War, Oliver Cromwell's troops crushed an uprising of vigilantes in a battle near Shaftesbury, Dorset.

The Black Death entered England at Melcombe Regis (now part of Weymouth), Dorset, in the summer of 1348, possibly carried in by infected soldiers or sailors returning from the Hundred Years' War.

The first recorded Viking raid on the British Isles occurred in Dorset during the eighth century.

The 14th Century Parish Church of St Peter & St Paul's impressive 160ft high tower is the tallest in Norfolk and dominates the town. After walking up the 172 steps to the top of the tower you can see for miles – west towards the ‘Runtons’ and Sheringham, east towards the lighthouse.

Winchester is host to the largest Farmers Market in the UK, which takes place on the second and final Sunday of each month.

Legend has it that during the Medieval times, nagging wives were taken to the chiding Stone in Kent, where they were 'Chided' as punishment by local villagers. This is possibly how the village of Chiddingstone got its name.

At 129 ft high (39.3 metres), Silbury Hill in Avesbury, Wiltshire, is the tallest prehistoric man-made mound in Europe and one of the largest in the world.