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On
17 May 1649,
three soldiers were executed on Oliver Cromwell’s
orders in Burford churchyard, Oxfordshire. They belonged
to a movement popularly known as the Levellers, with beliefs
in civil rights and religious tolerance.
During
the Civil War, the Levellers fought on Parliament’s
side, they had at first seen Cromwell as a liberator,
but now saw him as a dictator. They were prepared to fight
against him for their ideals and he was determined to
crush them. Over 300 of them were captured by Cromwell’s
troops and locked up in Burford church. Three were led
out into the churchyard to be shot as ringleaders.
In
1975, members of the WEA Oxford Industrial Branch
went to Burford to reclaim a piece of history that seemed
to be missing from the school books. They held a meeting
in remembrance of the Leveller soldiers. The following
year, Tony Benn came and read in the church and in each
succeeding year, people have come to Burford on the Saturday
nearest to 17 May, debated, held a procession, listened
to music and remembered the Levellers and the importance
of holding on to ideals of justice and democracy.
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| Unite
the Union GPMS |
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| The
Mid Counties Co-operative |
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| The
T & G 5/625 Branch, BMW Oxford |
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| Ruskin
College |
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| Oxford
CND |
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