The Ascott Martyrs 2

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 Martyrs Tree and Benches

The chestnut 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

Local historian Doris Warner (seated right) with her husband Ivor, who gave the original benches and the tree to the village, at the unveiling by Reg Bottini (standing left) General Secretary of the National Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers. Seated is Florentine Tait, Chair of the Parish Council

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