A programme of talks for the Spring has been organised by the Tolpuddle Old Chapel Trust as part of a government-funded project.

As part of the Tolpuddle Family Lives project, backed by funding from Historic England’s Everyday Heritage Grant Programme, the Tolpuddle Old Chapel Trust is celebrating working class stories through a number of workshops.

Launching on Wednesday, April 3, Philip Martin will introduce the project. He will give the first talk on Wednesday, April 10 called, the building in out midst, a brief history of the Tolpuddle Old Chapel and the stories it holds.

The following talk, on Wednesday, April 24 will be given by Rachel Worth. Her talk will be on rural working-class clothing and change in Victorian England. Rachel will describe how the rural poor dressed in the nineteenth century- with a reference to Dorset.

Sophie Wright, an author of a play on the lives of Tolpuddle wives, will give the following talk on Wednesday, May 8. She will use song and quotations for her talk, titled the Life of Tolpuddle’s landless, working folk.

On Wednesday, May 15, Steve Wallis will give a talk on the water meadows of the Frome and Piddle Valleys. The talk is titled Drowning the Landscape.

All talks are free of charge, and will begin at 7pm at the Old Chapel in Tolpuddle.

Spaces are limited due to health and safety, so booking in advance is essential according to organisers. To book a place for a talk, contact Angela Herrera on deliverymanager@tolpuddleoldchapeltrust.org