The Ascott Martyrs

In 1873 the so-called ‘Chipping Norton Incident’ saw sixteen women and two babies imprisoned in Oxford Gaol for their part in supporting striking agricultural labourers in Ascott-under-Wychwood.
These sixteen women have now gone down in history as ‘The Ascott Martyrs’.Today they are commemorated on the seats that surround a chestnut tree on the village green and by a hand-stitched textile that hangs in the parish church.

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The Ascott Martyrs Tree and Benches

The tree was planted on the village green in 1973 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 16 women imprisoned for picketing during a strike by farm hands in 1873. The original benches were replaced in 2000

Doris Warner local historian with husband Ivor planting the Martyrs’ Tree who also gave the original seats to the village…1973 unveiled by Reg Bottini (left picture) General Secretary of National Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers and Florentia Tait Parish Council Chair.

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The Ascott Martyrs