Lunch with the martyrs

After visiting family on my father's side near Exeter yesterday, we camped in my brother's campervan on a farm north of Beaminster in Dorset. After calling in to see more family - on my mother's side - in Beaminster we headed west into Hampshire, to pay a visit to yet more family - father's side again - near Ringwood. En route we lunched at the Martyrs' Inn at Tolpuddle, home of the Tolpuddle Martyrs, who were a group of 19th century agricultural labourers who were arrested for and convicted of swearing a secret oath as members of the Friendly Society of Agricultural Labourers. At the time, friendly societies had strong elements of what are now considered to be the predominant role of trade unions. The Tolpuddle Martyrs were subsequently sentenced to transportation to Australia.

From Ringwood we came back to Hampton to stay with my sister for a few days.