Monmouth Rebellion
The local resonances surface. The walk crosses another trail in the long struggle for human rights.
The Monmouth Rebellion of 1685 began in Lyme Regis and was crushed in the same year on Sedgemoor. Following a set back at Keynsham the ‘Pitchfork’ army headed east, they were refused entry to Bath and headed for Norton St Phillip. We walk towards their ghosts.
picture credit Geoff Williams.
The George Inn: in 1685, for a few days, the headquarters of Duke of Monmouth
On the throne in 1685, following the death of Charles II, was James II, Charles’ brother, a Roman Catholic. Charles had regained royal power following the collapse of the Commonwealth and quickly dismantled the political and religious freedoms established following the Civil War. Republican ideas were still strong in the country and the accession to the throne of James, was feared by many to be a further drift towards a return to absolute Roman Catholic rule. This was especially true in the West Country, The Duke of Monmouth, Charles II’s bastard son, hoped to lead a Protestant uprising and overthrow James.
Monmouth was supported by republicans as well as those supporting a constituional monarchy. People from Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire joined the rebellion some of them were nonconformist Christians who had suffered persecution under Charles II. Others were disaffected because of the economic recession which had recently hit the south west, most were labourers and artisans. Amongst their number were workers from the mills and workshops of Frome.
At Norton St Philip a further skirmish had this ‘Pitchfork’ army falling back to Frome, possibly along the roads we walk. Ultimately they headed off to Wells and across the Somerset levels towards their last stand at Sedgemoor.
A vicious and terrible repression followed, famously known as the Bloody Assizes, in Wells alone on a single day 500 men were tried and most sentenced to death. 12 executions took place at Norton St Phillip. Frome rebels are reported to have also been hung, drawn and quartered at Gore Hedge, just past the top of what is now Bath Street. Others were transported to the West Indies. The families of the Taunton schoolgirls who had presented a banner to welcome Monmouth had to pay a ransom for their release.
More info here: Monmouth Rebellion and Bloody Assizes